WASHINGTON - Thursday marked the day when
the Census Bureau officially starting sending out enumerators to complete
the Census and count those who did not receive or return a census questionnaire.
Over $185 billion in federal funds will be distributed to states and communities
based on Census data.
"With so much at stake, it is now critical
that people who have not been counted open their doors to the enumerators,"
said J. Kenneth Blackwell, Congressional Member of the U.S. Census Monitoring
Board. Enumerators will knock on doors and make telephone calls until July
7. "The enumerators are your friends and neighbors who are working to benefit
your community," said Blackwell.
Blackwell discussed the confidentiality
of the Census data. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share anyone's information
with any other agency, including the FBI, INS, or the IRS. In addition,
Blackwell noted that to ensure public safety, census enumerators would
be easily recognizable.
If a census taker comes to your door, he
or she will:
* Wear an easily recognizable red, white
and blue name badge.
* Gave tote bag with "Census 2000" written
on it
* Carry official census forms
* Have a printed statement verifying that
your answers are confidential
* Never ask to come inside your house
* Never request Social Security, drivers
license or credit card numbers
* Have a local census telephone number
you can call to verify that he or she is a Census worker
Over four million people were missed in
the 1990 census, with a disproportionate number of Hispanic/Latino, African-American,
Asian American and Native American. More than half of those missed were
children.
The Congressionally Appointed Members of
the Census Monitoring Board, a bipartisan panel created by Congress to
oversee the implementation of the 2000 Census, have been visiting with
leaders and residents of hard-to-count areas around the nation. The Board
has incorporated many of their suggestions for conducting a better count
in its reports to Congress.
To apply for a temporary job with the Census
Bureau, call their toll-free number: (888)325-7733.
Information regarding the Census Monitoring
Board and the 2000 census can be found on our web page at www.cmbc.gov.