44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

REQUESTING SUPPORT TO THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU FOR PURPOSES OF HAVING A COMPLETE AND ACCURATE COUNT OF ALL NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS FOR THE UPCOMING CENSUS 2000.

WHEREAS, a decennial census of every residence is required under Article 1, Section 2 of the United States constitution; and

WHEREAS, an accurate census is essential for the allocation of representation within the legislative bodies of the United States house of representatives, the New Mexico state legislature and within New Mexico county and voting districts; and

WHEREAS, billions of dollars each year in intergovernmental funding for health, education, transportation, child and elder care, emergency preparation and response, public works and social support programs of all kinds depend on complete and accurate age, population and other ethnic and demographic information gathered every ten years; and

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico was undercounted in 1990 by more than forty-eight thousand persons resulting in the loss of nearly eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) to the state; and

WHEREAS, all units of government, large and small corporations, nonprofit organizations, religious organizations and local businesses of all sizes require accurate information on population and family size and income data for investments, job development and marketing guidance to determine the impact of educational, health and social programs; and

WHEREAS, individual and family information is held completely confidential by strong federal laws supported by consistent court rulings at all levels and is never released except in large statistical totals or to family members after seventy-two years for genealogical purposes; and

WHEREAS, census 2000 in New Mexico is being carried out under the able leadership of Fernando E. C de Baca in Albuquerque, Arlene Roybal in Las Cruces and Francisco Apodaca in Santa Fe, distinguished native New Mexicans;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that endorsement and support be extended to the United States census bureau as it conducts a complete and accurate count of all New Mexico residents as of April 1, 2000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that citizens of New Mexico be encouraged to enthusiastically support census 2000 and assist the United States census bureau in every way possible, and return the census questionnaires promptly and accurately so that census 2000 can be the most accurate and most efficiently conducted resident count ever conducted; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico leadership of census 2000 for appropriate distribution.