HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H. R. NO.	16
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

supporting the united states bureau of the census and urging all hawaii residents to participate in 2010.

     WHEREAS, the United States Constitution requires a national census, which is a count of everyone residing in the nation, once every ten years; and

     WHEREAS, the first census in the United States took place in 1790 to determine the number of seats each state would have in the U.S. House of Representatives; and

     WHEREAS, the census was also created to gain a better understanding of where people lived and to establish patterns of settlement as the nation grew; and

     WHEREAS, census data are used for a number of public purposes including forecasting future transportation needs, providing evidence in litigation involving land use, voting rights, and equal opportunity, determining areas eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation loans, directing funds for services for people in poverty, and planning for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and the location of other health services; and

     WHEREAS, the allocation of federal and state funding for critical social services and other public purposes depends on complete and accurate age, population, and demographic information; and

     WHEREAS, every year, the federal government can allocate more than $300 billion to states and communities based, in part, on census data; and

     WHEREAS, census data also determines how many seats each state will have in the United States House of Representatives, making a complete and accurate count vital to fair representation; and

     WHEREAS, the 2010 census will be taken on April 1, 2010, with a ten-question questionnaire delivered or mailed to households in March 2010; and

     WHEREAS, federal law requires each resident over 18 years of age to fill out the census questionnaire truthfully or be subject to a $100 fine; and

     WHEREAS, every Census Bureau worker takes a lifetime oath to protect confidentiality to ensure that data identifying respondents and their households are not released or shared for a period of 72 years; and

     WHEREAS, this oath means that identity information will not be shared with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, that this body supports the efforts of the United States Bureau of the Census to achieve a complete and accurate census; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all of Hawaii's residents are encouraged to "Be Counted in 2010" by filling out their ten-question questionnaire when it arrives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that local governments, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, schools, media, businesses, and others are urged to help raise awareness of the vital role of an accurate census, and to encourage full participation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Hawaii's Congressional delegation, Superintendent of Education, Director of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, Mayor of each County, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Editor in Chiefs of the Star Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser, and the Partnership Specialist at the Honolulu Local Census Office.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

U.S. Census Participation