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>Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 09:24:55 -0700
>From: Linda Zellmer <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: FW: Census 2000 News Alert <fwd>
 
 
 
Hello All,
 
The following information might be of interest to others on the list.  Linda
Zellmer
 
 
> October 15, 1998
>
>
>  NEWS ALERT
>
>  BUDGET AGREEMENT: Census Receives Funding Increase; Congress Will Revisit
> Sampling Issue by June 15
>
>  Dual Track Preparations to Continue for Now
>
>  The Census Bureau will receive $1.027 billion for 2000 preparations in
>  the fiscal year that began on October 1, according to an agreement
>  reached today between Congress and the Administration.  But Congress
>  will revisit the dispute over sampling methods by June 15, 1999 before
>  funds can be spent after that date.  Negotiators also agreed to stop the
>  flow of funds to the entire budget account covering the Departments of
>  Commerce, Justice, and State, and the judicial branch after June 15
>  unless a new measure granting spending authority is enacted.
>
>  The Bureau's allocation is $75 million above the $952 million for census
>  preparations approved by the House of Representatives last August.  Of
>  the additional $75 million, $40 million must be spent on preparations
>  for a census that doesn't include sampling methods.
>
>  Negotiators hope that the threat of shutting down law enforcement
>  activities, foreign embassy operations, and other vital programs in the
>  same bill will force sampling critics and the Administration to resolve
>  the controversy over census methods.  The Census Bureau will complete
>  evaluations of this year's census dress rehearsal by next winter, and
>  the Census Monitoring Board must issue reports by February 1 and April 1
>  of next year, as well.
>
>  Congress and the Administration also hope that the Supreme Court will
>  issue a ruling before the self-imposed June 15 deadline in two lawsuits
>  challenging the use of sampling for purposes of congressional
>  apportionment.  However, Rep. Dan Miller (R-FL) said in a statement
>  yesterday that a Supreme Court ruling that sampling is lawful "doesn't
>  automatically" mean that sampling will be used in the 2000 census.
>
>  Funding for the census will be included in an omnibus spending package
>  covering numerous Federal departments and agencies.  Congress is
>  expected to pass the bill within the next few days before leaving town
>  for the fall elections.
>
>  Census director confirmation expected: The Senate is expected to confirm
>  President Clinton's nominee for Census Bureau director, Dr. Kenneth
>  Prewitt, before adjournment, according to Administration officials
>  monitoring census issues.  Dr. Prewitt would take over from James F.
>  Holmes, the Bureau's Atlanta Regional Director who has served as acting
>  head of the Bureau since Dr. Martha F. Riche stepped down last January.
>  No Senators have expressed opposition publicly to the Prewitt
>  nomination.
>
>  Questions about the information contained in this News Alert may be
>  directed to TerriAnn Lowenthal at (202) 484-2270 or, by e-mail at
>  <[log in to unmask]>.  Please direct all requests to receive News
>  Alerts, and all changes in address/phone/fax/e-mail, to Census 2000 at
>  <[log in to unmask]> or 202/326-8700.  Please feel free to circulate
>  this information to colleagues and other interested individuals.
>
>
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