Chicago, IL
The collection of full and accurate data in the 2000 Census is vital to working families. This information, required every ten years by the Constitution, is used for important decision-making that affects working people — not only at the federal but also at the state and local levels of government. It is the basis for decisions on reapportionment of seats in the U.S. Congress and in state and local legislative districts, and it informs the monitoring and enforcement of key laws like the Voting Rights Act.
Census data are also used to determine the allocation of billions of dollars in funds for planning and implementation of federal, state and local programs and services such as school construction, housing and community development, road and transportation planning. Even in local communities, the numbers are valuable for developing locally based social service programs and community action projects.
The AFL-CIO supports the U.S. Census Bureau in its goal of assuring a complete and accurate count in Census 2000, including all population groups that evidence shows have been undercounted in past censuses. Toward that goal, we will urge Congress to provide full fiscal 1999 funding for the Census Bureau, and we advocate the plan to use the traditional enumeration methods of counting as well as scientific sampling methods in the 2000 census.
We urge all affiliates to encourage their members to fully cooperate in the count in Census 2000, and to let their members know that all census information submitted by individuals is confidential and is not shared with other agencies.
We urge all unions and state and local labor councils to work with local Census Bureau staff in their communities to insure a full and accurate count for Census 2000.