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JUN 2 4 1999 TO: Karen Tramontano Martha Foley FR: Michael Deich MD RE: Letter to Appropriations Committee regarding statistics programs For the past three years, the OMB Director has sent a letter to the Appropriations Committee calling attention to the President's funding request for statistical programs. Generally, the letter is a non-controversial recitation of the large benefits that could be obtained from a modest investment of Federal funds. This year's letter, which is attached, follows the same form. Although the letter references funding for Census, it does not mention any of the issues that we are debating with the Congressional majority. On balance, I think that this plain vanilla version is appropriate for its intended audience, but I don't want us to trip over the strategy you're pursuing for the Census fight. Can we let this draft go, or do you think we should change the letter to address directly some of the issues on Census 2000? Pls let me know. Thanks. w/