Hon. WILLIAM J. GREEN, CHARLOTTE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Chairman, Census and Statistics Subcommittee, DEAR REPRESENTATIVE GREEN: Our Chamber of Commerce Market Information Committee has studied the issues of the bill being submitted to Congress by Representative Betts of Ohio and others which seek to limit the scope of the 1970 Census. We offer for your consideration our committee's opinion in the form of the enclosed resolution which was approved by our Chamber Board of Directors on March 13, 1968. Very truly yours, JERRY HENDRICK, Manager, Research Department. RESOLUTION Whereas a National Census is a recognized need of all nations and mandatory reporting is accepted as a basic requirement; and Whereas the decennial census of population is our most important statistical activity, having its origins in the Constitution of the United States and having been conducted in each decennium beginning with the Census of 1790; and Whereas our Nation and our area have grown, and there are many new demands on all statistical resources because of the magnitude and complexity of our economic and social problems; and Whereas information on population, education, housing, etc., has proved to be an important measure of and stimulus to industry and commerce; and Whereas the Census of 1970 will be primarily a Census by mail and will not have the flexibility of evaluations being made by the Census taker: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce go on record in support of a full 1970 Census with its present jurisdiction in terms of content and geographic reporting being maintained. We are, therefore, opposed to the Betts and related bills dealing with the Census in their entirety. Further since the issue of personal questions constituting an invasion of privacy is a matter of great concern, we urge Congress to maintain a continuing scrutiny and evaluation of the Census program to insure that such questions be held to a minimum. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, INC., Hon. WILLIAM J. GREEN, Chairman, Subcommittee on Census and Statistics, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I am forwarding to you a statement of the views of the American Public Health Association on H.R. 10952 and similar bills, which would limit the categories of questions required to be answered under penalty of law in the decennial censuses of population. Please note that our Association takes sharp exception to these proposals. As outlined in our position paper, these proposals would have disastrous effects upon the ability of public health workers to plan intelligently to protect the public's health. Although we did not request an opportunity to testify at the hearings, we sincerely hope that the views expressed in our statement will be made available to your colleagues. Sincerely yours, BERWYN F. MATTISON, M.D. STATEMENT OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION A complete count of the population and certain of its characteristics by blocks, census tracts, cities, towns, counties, states, regions, and the United States is essential to the definition of health problems, the identification of high risk groups, the planning of health programs, and the delivery of health services. The mobility which presently characterizes the population makes such a complete count every five years a real necessity. We strongly endorse and support both the decennial and the mid-decade census and defend the mandatory response aspects of any census, the sampling design proposed by the Census Bureau, and those items which are particularly important to health activities. The mandatory response feature of the census should be retained for all items included whether they are to be collected from 100 percent of the population or from a sample. This feature is insurance that there will be knowledge of the statistical properties of the estimates. Experience has shown that when the responses to questions are voluntary, the process of self selection on the part of the respondent biases the resulting data. When respondents decide for themselves whether they will respond or not, the direction and degree of the bias are unknown, and the information gathered from such unstructured samples cannot be used to compute national, state, or any other estimates. Election polls, and voluntary ad hoc surveys have demonstrated this danger, and it would undermine the census to permit voluntary response. The sampling design should be left to the decision of the Census Bureau and its experts. This group is best qualified to interpret sampling fractions which would furnish estimates for small areas, such as blocks and census tracts. A sampling design is an extremely technical procedure; it is not a process to be undertaken by those who lack the necessary training and skill. We endorse all census questions generally accepted for a 100 percent mandatory return.1 However, there are certain other items sufficiently relevant to health matters as to warrant their collection on a mandatory basis. A voluntary or random sampling would not provide the pertinent data essential to advanced health planning on state and local levels. Mandatory responses would provide statistics on such problems as: causes of mortality related to geographic areas and stratified by income, persons per room, birth rates and fertility rates for areas of low or high income. Further, it would provide data bases for the National Health Survey. The following, as a minimum, are important health questions which should be answered by a mandatory census: POPULATION State or country of birth (25%). This is used in epidemiologic studies of heart disease and cancer; comparisons are between persons remaining in foreign countries, those migrating to the United States, and those born in the United States. The census provides the denominators for mortality rates for the immigrants and the native born. Years of school completed (25%). This information is important when related to birth rates for geographic areas and family size and would determine type of educational approach in health program. Number of children ever born (25%). This will be used in connection with the item above and in related fields for studies of completed family size; relates closely with specific causes of infant and maternal mortality as well as certain childhood defects. Employment status (25%). This information is important when correlated with mortality and birth rates, and must be considered when devising medical service programs fitted to needs. Occupation, industry, and class of worker (25%). For analyses of mortality by occupation and for planning efficient and economic industrial health programs. Income last year (25%). Studies of birth rates, death rates and average or median income for geographic areas are required to assess need for more economically accessible health services. Presence and duration of disability (25%). For estimates of the number of disabled and duration of disability, to be related to all of above factors in planning services for the handicapped. HOUSING Of the relatively large number of census questions related to housing, five are especially important to health intelligence and an additional three would provide useful information. In our view, however, only the "number of rooms" item merits a 100 percent mandatory response. Information on the following are crucial to health planners: Number of rooms, water supply, flush toilet, source of water, and sewage disposal. 1 Name and address, relationship to head of household, sex, month and year of birth, color or race, and marital status. 2 Percentages represent recommended sample size. Three additional responses at sampling fractions less than 100 percent should be included. They are: Bathtub or shower, heating equipment, and completeness of kitchen facilities. In summary, the American Public Health Association believes the information described above is necessary for health purposes because: (1) The relationship of patterns of the occurrence of disease to the demographic characteristics of the population constitutes an essential factor in successful search for the etiology of disease and the design of programs for control. (2) The data to be gathered on income, quality of housing, education, and other socio-economic indices are vital in planning priorities for the delivery of health services. CHICAGO ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, Hon. THADDEUS J. DULSKI, Chicago, Ill., May 10, 1968. DEAR CONGRESSMAN DULSKI: This Association is opposed to the limitation of the questions to be asked in the 1970 Census, as proposed in H.R. 10952 by Congressman Betts and similar bills introduced by 21 other congressmen. Enclosed is a Resolution passed unanimously by this Association's Board of Directors at its last regular meeting, May 3, 1968. The Association urges the defeat of these bills in the interest of our community and the nation. With the complexity of modern American society, we need much more social and economic data in order to cope with the problems confronting us. This is true not only for the business community, but primarily for the decisions of local, state and Federal agencies. The 1970 Census should be encouraged to provide us with the benchmarks which all of us can utilize to update our research into what lies ahead. Respectfully, DR. WILLIAM W. TONGUE, RESOLUTION There are now 22 identical bills in the House of Representatives designed to limit the number of mandatory questions in the Census of 1970. There has been, in addition, a Bill No. S 2966 introduced by Senator Frank Lausche of Ohio which was identical to the House bills. Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina has introduced an amendment to the bill for a Mid-Decade Census which makes similar restrictions of the Census Bureau. Because the Censuses of Population and Housing provide the statistical base for governmental and non-governmental statistical knowledge in the country; and Because the mandatory nature of these Censuses is the only way such data may be acquired, and furthermore, decreasing the sample size in questions taken on a sampling basis will make the data collected on this basis far less meaningful; and Because the Census Bureau has a long standing record of never revealing any one individual or firm's data, thereby guarding the privacy of all confidential data collected; Therefore, we strongly oppose the limitation of mandatory questions to any greater degree than in the past, and reduction of sampling below the level of previous censuses, and Recommend the contents of the Census questions in essence be in the same form in which they have been presented over the last several decades, with the improvements now being written into the forms for the 1970 Census. (Adopted unanimously by the Board of Directors, May 3, 1968.) KANSAS PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, Hon. WILLIAM GREEN, DEAR MR. GREEN: The Kansas Public Health Association joins the American Public Health Association in endorsing and supporting both the decennial and the mid-decade census and in defending the mandatory response aspects of any census, the sampling design proposed by the Census Bureau, and those items which are particularly important to health activities. In order to plan health programs and carry them out with the highest degree of effectiveness, it is necessary to be constantly aware of the characteristics of the population-by blocks, census tracts, cities, towns, counties, states, and the country as a whole. In order to maintain this information up to date, and because of the mobility of our population, a complete census every five years is a real need. The mandatory response feature of the census must be retained if we are to secure information which is truly unbiased. Only in this way can we gather data for use in planning programs and in giving priorities to the areas of greatest need. Therefore, we urge you to give your support to H.R. 7659, authorizing a middecade census. And we hope that you will oppose any proposal to limit the mandatory questions to be answered in a census. Yours very truly, CARL O. TOMPKINS, M.D., President, Kansas Públic Health Association. LOS ANGELES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Mr. MORT MEYER, Staff Director, Census and Statistics Subcommittee, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. MEYER: It was a pleasure to meet with you while I was in Washington last month. Enclosed is another copy of the Chambers' position on the bills pending before Congress which would limit the 1970 Decennial Census. We are in accord with Congressman Green's views in this matter. Should you wish to have the business community represented at any hearings in the future, do not hesitate to call upon us. A representative of our Chamber would be available to support your position. You may contact me directly or call our Washington manager, Mr. Vincent Bordelon, (202) (298-5585), Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Suite 206, 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20006. Best wishes. Enclosure. JAMES H. LEWIS, Manager, Research Department. SUMMARY REPORT-1970 CENSUS OF POPULATION, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND HOUSING RECOMMENDATION That the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce opposes H.R. 10952 and similar bills in Congress which would seriously impair the collection and the value of information proposed for the 1970 Census of Population, Unemployment, and Housing. SUMMATION OF ARGUMENTS The Chamber's Board of Directors, at its regular meeting last week, urged Congress to defeat several bills currently pending that would limit the effectiveness of the 1970 Census. They argued that the dynamics of a rapidly growing economy with an exploding population requires current information if wise decisions are to be made. The Los Angeles Area Chamber and this board on numerous occasions over the past 40 years has urged the passing of census bills which would furnish needed information to our community. We were all appalled after the Watts riots with the lack of knowledge and information about this segment of our community. Needed data What this bill, as proposed by Congressman Betts, would do is eliminate between 45-65% of the questions on the 1970 Census and render meaningless much of the remainder by reducing the sample size. Moreover, the quantity of information on a local basis of particular importance to city, county and state agencies (as well as Federal) and also important to the business community would be minimal and the quality would be diminished. What does this mean to the business community? Many companies use census information to develop the benchmarks which cannot be obtained any other way. Business organizations, research staffs, consulting groups, Chambers of Commerce, trade associations, and others make much use of these data upon which many important business decisions are based. What does this mean to governments? Federal, state and local are all required to use census data in the preparation of applications and in the allocation of funds. The decennial census is the corner stone of federal, state and local government's statistical system. Census questions are essential to government and are not designed to enhance research capabilities of private enterprise. They are, however, useful to the business community. Unquestionably, the federal, state and local governments are the principal users of the federal statistical output that is essential for determining and carrying out public policy and programs. We know of many instances where senators and representatives have pointed up the lack of adequate or sufficient statistical information to guide the Congress and the administration in making important policy decisions. Mandatory questions This bill proposes a voluntary rather than compulsory response to all but six census questions. In 1790, the Congress, in its wisdom, decided that census data should be collected on a mandatory basis. In the past 177 years, the Congress has placed no limitation on that authority. In fact, in certain instances, it has broadened it. This was certainly not done without considered study and judgment. Data collected on a mandatory basis are more complete, valid and reliable than those collected on a voluntary basis. All we would get for our expenditure of about $200 million would be a very poor opinion poll. If the proposed bill were enacted, a makeshift census would result. Response would be uneven and the least response would be forthcoming from the strata of our society who are most in need of being included in our future planning and of whose needs are not yet even partially aware. Privacy matter Title 13 U.S. Code requires that answers to questions on the census schedules are required by law. By the same law, information furnished is confidential. It may be seen only by sworn census employees and may be used only for statistical purposes. Individual information may not be used for taxation, regulation, or investigation. No publication may be made which discloses the confidential information for an individual. This bill does not give the private citizen's record any more protection than it has today nor does it provide any true safeguards against the violation of privacy. All it would do is permit him not to answer questions on the much needed 1970 census. The questions to be asked on the 1970 census are substantially the same as those contained in the 1960 census, and there is not a single instance where the privacy of an individual has been invaded as a result of the 1960 census. Further recommendations We do not object to, but encourage, Congressional interest and attention to our statistical system, its deficiencies, its problems, and its needs. Serious consideration should be given by Congress to improving the census and other statistical programs of the Federal Government. |