An accurate Decennial census will play a critical role in shaping Brooklyn’s future.  Without full participation from our community, we risk losing congressional seats and billions in federal, state and local funds aid.  After undercounts in 1990 and 2000, the Census Bureau put in place safeguards to prevent undercounts in communities like Brooklyn, known as a “hard to count” community.  For these important reasons, I made the 2010 Census a top priority when I became Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.  That is also why I am deeply troubled by recent allegations of fraud at a local census office in Brooklyn. 

Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns (D-NY, NY-10), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, today announced that he will hold a hearing on Monday, July 19, 2010 in Brooklyn, New York, to examine a recent incident involving two senior managers at the Brooklyn North East Local Census Office who were fired for fraudulently completing census surveys.  The hearing, that will feature testimony from the Census Director, the New York Regional Census Director and the Commerce Department Inspector General, will also examine the steps the Census Bureau is taking to ensure the accuracy of the 2010 count.