THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

                   PRESIDENT CLINTON TRAVELS TO TEXAS, 
                 PARTICIPATES IN ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
             ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A FAIR AND ACCURATE CENSUS

                              June 2, 1998

Today, President Clinton travels to Houston, Texas, where he will lead a round table discussion at the Magnolia Multi-Service Center on the need for a fair and accurate census. The President will be joined by eight members of the Houston community who will give real and tangible examples of how accurate census information is important to their lives and work.

THERE IS A NEED FOR A FULL AND FAIR COUNT

     According to the Census Bureau, the 1990 Census Missed 8.4 Million
     People and Double-Counted 4.4 Million Others.  While missing or
     miscounting so many people is a problem, the fact that certain 
     groups (such as children, the poor, people of color, city dwellers 
     and people who live in rural rental homes) were missed more often 
     than others made the undercount even more inaccurate.

     In Texas Alone, the 1990 Census Missed More than 482,700 People, 
     with Children Representing Nearly Half of Texas' Undercount.  The 
     undercount in Houston was approximately 66,750.  Like the national 
     results, a disproportionate number of the undercounted Texans were 
     minorities -- 4% of African Americans were missed; 2.6% of Asians 
     in Texas were undercounted; 5.4% of Latinos and persons of 
     Hispanic origin were missed; and 2.8% of Native Americans were 
     undercounted in Texas.

WHY IS AN ACCURATE CENSUS SO IMPORTANT?

     The Decennial Census Provides Information That Is the Cornerstone 
     of Knowledge about the American People.  It is the basis for 
     virtually all demographic information used by educators, policy 
     makers, journalists, and community leaders.  America relies on 
     Census data everyday -- to determine where to build more roads, 
     hospitals, and child care centers.  Federal, state and local 
     governments use census data to decide which communities need more 
     federal help for WIC, Head Start, seniors nutrition programs, job 
     training and other services.  Businesses rely on census data for 
     marketing, hiring, and expansion plans.  Census data is used to 
     reapportion Congressional seats and draw legislative districts.