Speech #1000134005

In contrast. the calculated undercount for the white population was only seventenths of 1 percent. The negative impact of this failure to properly account for all Hispanic and black Americans is felt most strongly in our cities and States with large populations of both groups. And it is these same cities that would be most harshly penalized by the proposal to eliminate undocumented aliens from the census count. Many of our Nations States with large Hispanic populations already lack proper representation because of this institutionalized oversight. Ignoring the constitutional directive to include undocumented aliens in the census count would only exacerbate this inequality. Requiring the Census Bureau to account for all undocumented aliens would also prove to be operationally impossible. Including undocumented aliens for some census figures but not for others would require asking people their legal status. Such a question will undoubtedly elicit one of two responses from a vast majority of those aliens asked. dishonesty or noncompliance. both counterproductive to our census goals. The undocumented population in America is afraid and extremely wary of involvement with Government officials. When asked if they are legally residing in the United States. many will answer "yes." simply out of fear. Such responses would only contribute to inaccuracies in the census count. Those who honestly answer "no." will be all the more reluctant to divulge additional information about themselves on the census forms. and. most likely. will refuse to participate further. This would result in yet a greater undercount for cities and States with large alien populations. and an even more inequitable distribution of Federal funds and benefits. Contrary to what proponents of this amendment contend. requiring the Census Bureau to exclude undocumented aliens from the count for reapportionment purposes would be directly counter to the Constitution. and exacerbate the present underrepresentation of cities and States with large Hispanic populations. For these reasons. I believe that this amendment does not warrant consideration before the full House.