FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2002
Stephen Buckner CB02-CN.120
Public Information Office
(301) 763-3691/457-3620 (fax)
(301) 763-1037 (TDD)
e-mail: stephen.l.buckner@census.gov
Census Director Meets with State Lawmakers at National Meeting
DENVER - Census Bureau Director C. Louis Kincannon today briefed state
lawmakers at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) about
using census data to safeguard and improve the way of life for communities
across the nation - from assisting in the successful evacuation of
communities affected by natural disasters such as wildfires and floods to
easing traffic congestion in sprawling metropolitan areas.
"State lawmakers receive more than $200 billion in federal funds every
year based in part on census numbers - and in a year where most state
budgets are under considerable pressures and constraints, current
information about local communities can greatly improve how policy-makers
make funding decisions," Kincannon said.
During the presentation to approximately 200 state legislators attending
the session at the Colorado Convention Center, Kincannon outlined the
Census Bureau's plan to re-engineer the next census by eliminating the
long-form questionnaire and replacing it with a new survey to produce key
socio-economic data every year, rather than every 10 years. The American
Community Survey (ACS) would be implemented nationwide next year and
provide data as early as 2004, pending Congressional funding.
"America's rapidly changing population underscores the need and benefit
of having data every year on which to base critical policy decisions,"
said Bill Pound, executive director of NCSL. "The Census Bureau's plan
would dramatically improve the way that state legislators make policy
decisions by providing more useful data based on current circumstances
rather than on those collected up to 12 years ago."
Kincannon explained during his presentation that the ACS has been tested
successfully for the past six years and currently is operating in 36
communities across the country. "Some of the test sites are using the
data to accurately predict the number of flu vaccinations needed by their
elderly population, fight late-stage breast cancer with targeted
educational programs and reduce juvenile crime with after-school and adult
supervision programs," Kincannon said.
"Census data are continually reviewed by federal and state emergency
organizations in their evacuation plans and to assess damages resulting
from natural disasters, including the recent wildfires in Arizona and
Colorado, and the flooding in Texas," Kincannon added.
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