1999

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 99-032

BY SENATORS Owen, Arnold, Congrove, and Powers;

also REPRESENTATIVES McElhany, Dean, Hefley, and Lee.

CONCERNING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S SUPPORT FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION CONCERNING POST­CENSUS LOCAL REVIEW.

WHEREAS, The decennial census provides the foundation of our electoral democracy; and

WHEREAS, The decennial census represents an immense mobilization of resources; and

WHEREAS, The success of the 2000 census depends upon the cost involvement of local governments before, during, and after the census; and

WHEREAS, Local governments must have trust in all aspects of the 2000 census, including the final numbers; and

WHEREAS, The precensus program known as the "Local Update of Census Addresses," or "LUCA," is a good program but inadequate without a final review; and

WHEREAS, Over 21,000 local governments are currently not participating in the LUCA program; and

WHEREAS, The Census Bureau involved local governments in a program known as "Post­Census Local Review" during the 1990 census; and

WHEREAS, The Census Bureau has discontinued this valuable program for the 2000 census, to the displeasure of most cities in the United States; and

WHEREAS, In the 1990 census, 80,000 households that would otherwise have been missed were added to the final count, despite a 15­day time limit, through Post­Census Local Review; and

WHEREAS, Every household missed contributes to the undercount; and

WHEREAS, Congress must make every legal effort to have the most accurate census possible; and

WHEREAS, Congress is considering legislation, known as the "Local Quality Control Act," H.R. 472, to reinstate the Post­Census Local Review program and give the option to 39,000­plus local governments to check for Census Bureau mistakes before the numbers become final; and

WHEREAS, The National League of Cities, which represents 17,000 cities, enthusiastically supports Post­Census Local Review and H.R. 472; and

WHEREAS, The National Association of Towns and Townships, which represents 11,000 mostly rural towns and townships, supports Post­Census Local Review and H.R. 472; and

WHEREAS, The National Association of Developmental Organizations, whose members represent approximately 77 million Americans, or one­third of the U.S. population, supports Post­Census Local Review and H.R. 472; and

WHEREAS, The Secretary of Commerce's Census 2000 Advisory Committee recommended that he reinstate Post­Census Local Review for the 2000 census; and

WHEREAS, Without Post­Census Local Review, local governments will not have a final check before the Census Bureau's count of their cities or towns is reported to the President of the United States; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty­second General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

That the Sixty­Second General Assembly of the State of Colorado hereby declares its support for the immediate passage of Post­Census Local Review legislation, H.R. 472, as an important local government tool to instill trust in the census process and ensure that no households are missed by the Census Bureau in the 2000 census.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate, the President and Vice­President of the United States, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and to each member of the congressional delegation from the State of Colorado.

_________________________ _________________________

Ray Powers Russell George

PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES

_________________________ _________________________

Patricia K. Dicks Judith M. Rodrigue

SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE

THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES