Census Bureau Director Kenneth Prewitt today reported that in every region of the country 90 percent or more of U.S. housing units have been accounted for -- meaning that a census form has been received for a unit or it has been identified as vacant. Some 66 percent of households mailed in their questionnaires, and field efforts to obtain information from households that did not respond are about 70 percent complete.

Prewitt also referred to the text of an e-mail sent by President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore to all Census Bureau employees today, congratulating them on the success thus far of Census 2000. "I am extremely gratified that they have sent this message to all our staff, recognizing the dedication and work that has brought us to this point," Prewitt said.

He noted that, in their message, the president and vice president said the toughest part of the job is still ahead and added, "We will have to redouble our efforts to reach the remaining 8 percent of households, so that we can deliver to the country the accurate and complete census it needs for the coming decade. At the same time, I want to ask local leaders around the nation to join with us in this effort and to remind Americans who have not yet been counted to welcome census workers when they contact them."

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