Support a Continuing Resolution that Increases Funding for the Census Bureau

Recipient: Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, and David Obey

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
235 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0508

The Honorable Steny Hoyer
1705 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-2005

The Honorable David R. Obey
Chairman
United States House of Representatives
Committee on Appropriations
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and Chairman Obey:

On behalf of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the nation’s oldest, largest, and most diverse civil and human rights coalition, representing nearly 200 member organizations, we are writing to urge you to support the full proposed $2.906 billion in the Continuing Resolution (CR) for the Census Bureau’s Periodic Censuses and Programs budget. This immediate increase in funding for the Census Bureau is essential to the success of the 2010 count. The Bureau cannot effectively carry out final preparations for the 2010 census on schedule with last year’s funding level for even a short period of time, and any delay in operations will put these preparations at risk.

Unlike most other federal programs, census preparations cannot be delayed, even by a few weeks, or scaled back, without putting the accuracy of the decennial census at risk. The census count must start early in 2010, and all preparations must be underway well in advance of that time. For example, it takes a full year to print and address 130 million census forms. The Census Bureau must open and staff hundreds of local census offices across the country, and begin to recruit the millions of candidates it will need to conduct the census during peak field operations. Next spring, census workers must canvass the entire nation to verify addresses. Each operation must be done on time and thoroughly to ensure the best count possible in 2010.

In recognition of the Census Bureau’s unique needs at this time, we urge the Committee on Appropriations to provide the Census Bureau with the full proposed $2.906 billion in the CR for the Census Bureau’s Periodic Censuses and Programs budget. Failure to do so jeopardizes the accuracy of the 2010 Census and the American public’s confidence in this operation so fundamental to our democracy.

Should you require additional information or have any questions regarding this issue, please contact LCCR Census Task Force Co-Chairs Terry Ao at (202) 296-2300 ext.127, William Ramos at (202) 546- 2536, or Paul Edenfield, LCCR Counsel, at (202) 263-2852. Thank you for your consideration of our views.

Sincerely,
Wade Henderson, President & CEO
Nancy Zirkin, Executive Vice President