FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                     MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2002

Stephen Buckner                                             CB02-CR.18
Public Information Office
(301) 457-3691/457-3620 (fax)
(301) 457-1037 (TDD)
e-mail: stephen.l.buckner@census.gov


                **CENSUS BUREAU MEDIA ADVISORY**

      Key Data for Decision-Making to Be Available Every Year


What:   Demographic and socioeconomic data that are key to local and 
        state decision-making could be available annually with a new 
        initiative from the U.S. Census Bureau.
      
        Commerce Department Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Kathleen 
        B. Cooper will host a town hall meeting to discuss with government, 
        business and civic leaders the benefits of the new American 
        Community Survey (ACS).

        The Census Bureau collects population characteristic data in the
        census once every 10 years.  However, data on subjects such as 
        transportation, education, income and housing become increasingly 
        outdated with each passing year. The American Community Survey 
        would replace the 60-year-old census long-form questionnaire and 
        provide current data every year, allowing communities to make more 
        informed decisions.

        To learn more about obtaining these data every year, the media and
        the public are encouraged to attend the town hall meeting.

When:   Friday, June 28, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. PDT

Who:    Kathleen B. Cooper, under secretary for economic affairs, Department 
          of Commerce
        Chandler Felt, King County demographer
        Nancy M. Gordon, associate director for demographic programs, 
          Census Bureau
        Ralph Lee, Seattle regional director, Census Bureau

Where:  Jackson Federal Building
        915 Second Avenue, North Auditorium
        Seattle, Wash.