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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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