Kendrick Meek: “On April 1, 2000, as mandated by the U.S. Constitution and the Census Act, the decennial census will take place. People…”

“On April 1, 2000, as mandated by the U.S. Constitution and the Census Act, the decennial census will take place. People want an accurate census that includes everybody. Unfortunately, the U.S. Census Bureau has missed millions of persons in conducting each decennial census, especially minorities, the poor, children, newly arrived immigrants, and the homeless. Our goal for Census 2000 must be the most accurate census possible. To accomplish this, the Census Bureau must use the most up-to-date methods as recommended by the National Academy of Sciences and the vast majority of the professional scientific community. The importance of the census is monumental. The census has a real impact on the lives of real people. Information gathered in the decennial census is used by states and local governments to plan schools and highways; by the federal government to distribute funds for health care and other programs; and by businesses in making their economic plans. An accurate census is vital to every community. Last year, census data was used in the distribution of over $180 billion in federal aid. Accurate census data is the only way to assure that local communities receive their 'fair share' of federal spending; an inaccurate count will shortchange the affected communities for an entire decade. Census data also forms the basis for which Congressional seats are apportioned among the states.”