Clay Says Census Funding Freeze Threatens Critical Tests for 2010

Press Release

Clay Says Census Funding Freeze Threatens Critical Tests for 2010

Census Director Warns Continuing CR Flatline Could Increase Costs, Reduce Accuracy

In testimony today before the House Subcommittee on Information Policy, the Census and National Archives, U.S. Census Director Louis Kincannon warned that critical testing of new equipment and procedures will have to be scaled back or cancelled if adjustments are not made to the current Continuing Resolution which freezes Census funding at FY 2007 levels.

The subcommittee, which is chaired by Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Mo, is probing how the failure to include the usual exemption for the Census Bureau in the current Continuing Resolution is putting vital preparations for the 2010 national survey at risk.

"The Dress Rehearsal for the 2010 Census is scheduled to occur in less than five months. This is the last chance to test the vast changes in the census design and the new handheld equipment that is a critical component to the re-engineered census," said Chairman Clay. "Census officials tell us that the CR may make it impossible to fund the final phase of the Dress Rehearsal, which could mean that for the first time in 40 years, we can't test the final Census design, even as we undertake the most significant reform of the Decennial since the advent of the Long Form."

Census Director Kincannon outlined a list of important elements for the dress rehearsal that will either be scaled back or eliminated if the current funding freeze is not adjusted, including: Allowing local governments to include new residential construction in updated address lists; special field operations at military bases, colleges and prisons; questionnaire assistance centers; and other vital parts of the dress rehearsal that if left untested, could directly impact the accuracy of the 2010 count.

As negotiations begin for the next Continuing Resolution, Chairman Clay restated three essential elements that must be provided for. He commented, "We must take definite steps to insure that:

1. There will be no scaling back, cancellation or delay in the
Dress Rehearsal as planned.

2. Nothing in the CR language will hinder, delay or deny the planned funding and execution of

the contracts for the handheld computers, the advertising program, the partnership program, or the data capture program.

3. That OMB will use every means necessary to grant Bureau of the Census officials any waivers or exemptions from Administration spending restrictions in order for them to meet these requirements.

"Previous administrations have made certain that CR's allow the Census enough flexibility to run all phases of the dress rehearsal with the proper technology. The new, updated census model will have to pass a critical test. And any interruption in those preparations caused by a flat-line CR could result in millions of Americans being missed in 2010."

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