NALEO Commends Confirmation of Dr. Robert Groves as Director of U.S. Census Bureau

NALEO Commends Confirmation of Dr. Robert Groves as Director of U.S. Census
Bureau
With 2010 Census less than a year away, leadership at the Census Bureau is
needed to ensure a full and accurate count of America's population, including
all Latinos

LOS ANGELES, July 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the National
Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational
Fund, the leading nonprofit organization that facilitates full Latino
participation in the American political process, issued the following
statement regarding the Senate confirmation of Dr. Robert Groves:

"The NALEO Educational Fund is pleased that the U.S. Senate confirmed the
appointment of Dr. Robert Groves to serve as Director of the U.S. Census
Bureau. The confirmation of Dr. Groves fills an important leadership void at
the Census Bureau.

Dr. Groves is a highly-qualified professional who understands the science and
substance of the Census and the Bureau, and who is fully committed to a
process that counts everyone. He is the right person to lead the Bureau at
this critical time of planning for next year's enumeration.

"With a new Director confirmed, it is time for the Census Bureau to move
forward to ensure that the 2010 enumeration produces the most accurate count
possible of the nation's population. It is critical that the Bureau implement
a communications and outreach plan that takes into account the current
economic and social realities confronting residents of the nation. The
Bureau's advertising must connect with Americans who have been displaced or
lost homes because of natural disasters or our economic crisis. It must
assure residents of the confidentiality of the information provided during the
enumeration.

"The Census Bureau must also ensure that its Census 2010 workforce reflects
the diversity of the nation's population, from its highest managerial
positions to its field enumerators.

"In addition, we urge Congress to do its part by providing sufficient funding
in the FY 2010 budget to effectively implement the 2010 enumeration. The
2010 Census involves the largest peacetime mobilization of America's federal
personnel and resources, and the Bureau must have the funding needed to meet
this challenge.

"Finally, we strongly condemn the efforts of a small group of organizations
with extremist views, and even a member of Congress, calling for a boycott of
the enumeration. A boycott would only exacerbate the undercount, which would
hurt neighborhoods and communities. Encouraging anyone not to participate in
the census is simply wrong.

"Unfortunately, the Latino population has never been fully counted in the
decennial enumeration, and Census Bureau estimates suggest that the 2000
Census may have missed as many as 1 million Latinos. Let us be clear: the only
way to achieve a successful census is to count all Latinos.

"We are committed to helping the Bureau eliminate the undercount through our
participation in the ya es hora, HAGASE CONTAR! (It's Time, Make Yourself
Count!) Campaign. The Campaign - an unprecedented coalition of national
Spanish-language media and Latino organizations - will promote the importance
of the census, educate members of the community about filling out their census
forms and encourage households to mail back their responses once they complete
their forms.

"We congratulate Dr. Groves on his confirmation and look forward to working
with him and the Bureau to ensure a successful 2010 enumeration."

About the NALEO Educational Fund

The NALEO Educational Fund is the leading organization that empowers Latinos
to participate fully in the American political process, from citizenship to
public service. The NALEO Educational Fund is a national non-profit,
non-partisan organization whose constituency includes the more than 6,000
Latino elected and appointed officials nationwide.

Contact: Eric Wagner (213) 747-7606, Ext. 4427, Email: ewagner@naleo.org

SOURCE NALEO Educational Fund

Eric Wagner of NALEO Educational Fund, +1-213-747-7606, Ext. 4427,
ewagner@naleo.org