Last week, Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) introduced an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (HR 2847) which would require that the 2010 Census include a question about the immigration or citizenship status of census participants.

Below is a statement from Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard about the damaging ramifications of the Vitter-Bennett amendment to the successful implementation of the 2010 Census.

“I find it very disappointing that some of my colleagues in the U.S. Senate would seek to use the Census to promote the politics of discrimination,” said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34).  “The Vitter amendment would simply put up stumbling blocks to getting an accurate count.  Full participation in the Census is essential to every community in this nation.  I encourage my fellow lawmakers to reject the Vitter amendment and promote full Census participation in their states.”

For more information about this amendment, please visit http://www.naleo.org/pr/pr10-16-09.html.