LOS ANGELES —  Today, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)
Educational Fund, the leading nonprofit organization that facilitates full Latino participation in the American political process, issued the following statement regarding the nomination of Dr. Robert Groves:

“The NALEO Educational Fund urges the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to advance the nomination of Dr. Robert Groves to a full Senate confirmation vote.

“With the 2010 Census less than a year away, this is a critical time for our nation’s efforts to ensure the most accurate count of its population. In addition to the demanding planning and implementation tasks that the Census Bureau routinely faces this close to the enumeration, the Bureau must also address the difficulties involved in conducting the 2010 Census during a time of unprecedented economic challenges. The Census Bureau must act swiftly to evaluate and implement effective strategies to count Americans that have been displaced by foreclosures or other housing problems, or who feel disengaged from our society.”

“Thus, it is urgent that the U.S. Senate move swiftly to confirm the appointment of a skilled professional who understands the science and substance of the Census, who understands the Bureau and who is fully committed to a process that counts everyone. Dr. Groves is an excellent choice on all three counts. In addition to his scientific qualifications, Dr. Groves has worked in the Census Bureau as a front-line employee and as a visiting scholar. We look forward to working with him to guarantee that the 2010 Census achieves a full and accurate count of all Americans.

“Unfortunately, the Latino population has never been fully counted. The 2000 Census, despite producing a net over count of the total population, produced an undercount of Latinos of around 3%, or one million Latinos.

“Let us be clear: the only way to achieve a successful census is to count all Latinos.

“We are committed to helping the Bureau eliminate the undercount through our participation in the ya es hora, ¡HAGASE CONTAR! (It’s Time, Make Yourself Count!) Campaign. The Campaign – an unprecedented coalition of national Spanish-language media and Latino organizations - will promote the importance of the census, educate members of the community about filling out their census forms and encourage households to mail back their responses once they complete their forms.

“We commend the President for making this important nomination, and we urge the United States Senate to move swiftly to confirm Dr. Groves’ appointment, so that we may begin the important work ahead.”