U.S. Census Bureau
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
10:00 a.m.
Good morning.
Welcome to all of you here and those joining us
online and by telephone. My name is Stephen Buckner. I’m the Assistant
Division Chief in the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office.
Today’s release is vitally important to
our country, but reveals just a small glimpse of our Nation’s increasing
diverse and rapidly changing population. The data collected by the Census Bureau
are critical in understanding and planning for those changes, and help determine
how more than $300 billion in federal funds are distributed back to state and
local governments each year. And with the 2010 Census now about 18 months away,
the Census Bureau will fulfill its Constitutional mandate to count every resident
in the United States, further illustrating how America is changing.
At this time I will provide an overview of today’s
annual news conference on income, poverty and health insurance in the United
States. For everyone attending here at the Census Bureau, we will begin handing
out media kits shortly. For those participating via the Web or by telephone,
you can also view today’s information by going to the Census Bureau homepage,
www.census.gov, and clicking on the income and poverty banner at the top of
the screen.
Please save your questions for the end of the
presentation, we will have a question and answer period for accredited news
media only. We hope to answer all your questions, but
if we are unable to get to everyone based on a limited amount of time, please
call our Public Information Office at 301-763-3030, or you may choose to stay
for a few minutes and ask questions of Census Bureau staff available here today.
This morning David Johnson, chief of the Census
Bureau’s Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division, will highlight
results from two surveys: the Current Population Survey, and the American Community
Survey.
Now, here’s David Johnson, to speak about
income, poverty and health insurance coverage in the United States.
Question & Answer
That concludes the presentation portion of the
income, poverty and health insurance news conference. We will now take questions
from accredited news media only. We will try to get
to everyone, but please hold your question until you are recognized. When asking
a question, please wait for the microphone, provide your name and affiliation
first, and then proceed. Remember to confine your questions to the data presented
here today. The Census Bureau is not a policy-making agency, and therefore will
not be able to entertain any policy-related questions.
Closing Remarks
This concludes the Question & Answer portion
of today’s news conference. Thank you for your participation. Should you
need additional information, or would like to request a follow up interview,
please contact our Public Information Office at 301-763-3030. Thank you, and
good morning.
