Washington, DC - GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

TODAY I STAND IN COMPLETE SOLIDARITY WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS AND THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN CAUCUS TO OPPOSE AN AMENDMENT THAT IGNORES OUR CONSTITUTION AND INSULTS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.

THE VITTER-BENNETT AMENDMENT CLEARLY VIOLATES THE INTENT OF WHAT THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES THE CENSUS TO DO, AND SENATOR VITTER AND SENATOR BENNETT KNOW THAT.

THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A CYNICAL POLITICAL PLOY TO FURTHER DIVIDE THIS COUNTRY AND TO PANDER TO THE VOICES OF INTOLERANCE AT A TIME WHEN ALL OF US SHOULD BE STANDING TOGETHER TO BE COUNTED.

THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES A COMPLETE ENUMERATION OF ALL PERSONS LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY AS OF APRIL 1ST, 2010.IT DOES NOT ASK WHO THEY ARE,

WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE, OR HOW THEY CAME HERE.IT SIMPLY REQUIRES US TO COUNT EVERYONE…PERIOD.THE CENSUS IS NOT ABOUT FIXING OUR NATION’S BROKEN IMMIGRATION POLICY.

IT’S ABOUT THREE THINGS…MONEY, POWER AND INFORMATION.MORE THAN $400 BILLION IN FEDERAL FORMULA FUNDING IS DRIVEN BY CENSUS DATA EACH YEAR…

AND ACCURATE AND PROPER POLITICAL REPRESENTATION AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS DEPENDS ON A COMPLETE COUNT.COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES DEPEND ON ACCURATE CENSUS DATA TO MAKE CRITICAL PLANNING DECISIONS.

SO INSTEAD OF MAKING IT HARDER FOR THE CENSUS TO DO ITS JOB, WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO PRODUCE A COMPLETE COUNT.AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE WITH JURISDICTION OVER CENSUS 2010, THAT’S WHAT I’M COMMITTED TO.

AND I URGE THE SENATE TO REJECT THIS AMENDMENT AND MOVE FORWARD TO HELP US MAKE CENSUS 2010 THE MOST ACCURATE IN HISTORY.

THANK YOU.