Provisions of the USA Patriot Act that pertain to the gathering and sharing of information do not override federal confidentiality laws when it comes to the U.S. Census, the Justice Department said this week.
The clarification by government lawyers came at the request of minority lawmakers, who were seeking to allay the fears of constituents about the first national head count since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
In a letter sent Wednesday to the leaders of the congressional Asian Pacific, black and Hispanic caucuses, Assistant Attorney General Ronald H. Weich said that federal census laws trump the Patriot Act and will bar local, state or other federal agencies from obtaining information compiled by the count.
"If Congress intended to override these protections, it would say so clearly and explicitly," Weich said.
The Justice Department is unaware of any instance in which the Patriot Act has been used to obtain census data, spokesman Alejandro Miyar said Thursday.
http://http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/04/AR2010030404867.html?hpid=sec-politics
Sunday, April 11, 2010
LATINO OFFICIALS URGE FOR A Child Law
WASHINGTON, DC – Members of the bipartisan Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Taskforce on Education met this week with top congressional leaders and officials from the White House and U.S. Department of Education as Congress considers reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
The 12 member bipartisan Taskforce, comprised of Latino elected and appointed officials from 11 states, represents over 11 million students.
It is imperative that Latinos be at the table to help develop solutions that promote high school graduation, college and career readiness and a greater number of Latinos entering and completing college. The U.S. cannot expect to be a global leader unless Latino students become a stronger focus of Congress and the Obama Administration.
“The Latino community urgently calls for educational reforms to better serve every child in America,” said taskforce co-chair Mónica García, president of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. “We met with leaders in Washington to urge actions in support of Latino students and English-language learners. We support increased investment, accountability
at all levels and a commitment to put effective teachers in each classroom.”
The national, bipartisan group of Latino education policymakers together promotes and advocates for policies at the federal level that will help ensure Latino student success. It is a group of experienced Latino policymakers, including school board members, higher education system governing members and state legislators representing a broad cross section of the Latino
education community.
The Taskforce is comprised of members of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).
###
About NALEO Educational Fund:
The NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading non-partisan, non-profit organization that facilitates full Latino participation in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.
http://http://www.naleo.org/pr/pr03-19-10.html
The 12 member bipartisan Taskforce, comprised of Latino elected and appointed officials from 11 states, represents over 11 million students.
It is imperative that Latinos be at the table to help develop solutions that promote high school graduation, college and career readiness and a greater number of Latinos entering and completing college. The U.S. cannot expect to be a global leader unless Latino students become a stronger focus of Congress and the Obama Administration.
“The Latino community urgently calls for educational reforms to better serve every child in America,” said taskforce co-chair Mónica García, president of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. “We met with leaders in Washington to urge actions in support of Latino students and English-language learners. We support increased investment, accountability
at all levels and a commitment to put effective teachers in each classroom.”
The national, bipartisan group of Latino education policymakers together promotes and advocates for policies at the federal level that will help ensure Latino student success. It is a group of experienced Latino policymakers, including school board members, higher education system governing members and state legislators representing a broad cross section of the Latino
education community.
The Taskforce is comprised of members of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).
###
About NALEO Educational Fund:
The NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading non-partisan, non-profit organization that facilitates full Latino participation in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.
http://http://www.naleo.org/pr/pr03-19-10.html
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