Xavier Becerra: “Mr. Chairman, it is becoming very clear that there is a real fright in this House among some Members if we go out and…”

“Mr. Chairman, it is becoming very clear that there is a real fright in this House among some Members if we go out and truly count all of the American people, something we have never been able to do. The 1990 Census, as we know, undercounted about 4 or 5 percent of Americans, and that is as close as we have ever come in trying to head count people. But there is a real concern on this side of the aisle in going after those groups that are traditionally undercounted, so much so that this House is preparing to pass legislation that would provide half-year funding for a whole host of agencies, not the least of which is the Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce. Mr. Chairman, no American would go out and shop for half a house. No American would go out there and buy half a car. No American would plan for half an education for his or her children. No American would buy half a loaf of bread. What we want is something that we can plan for in the future, and we do not have it in this bill.”