Every ten years the federal government conducts a census. The population count is the basis on which literally billions of dollars are allocated for scores of federal programs, including highways, hospitals, job training, women's, infants and children's food programs, special education, child care services and crime victim assistance.

The census is also the basis for the Congressional reapportionment of U.S. House of Representatives seats and is used by the states to redraw Congressional and state and local legislative election district lines.

Historically, the census has undercounted the poor and minorities, particularly in inner cities. Such undercounts are tragic, because they have resulted in reduced funding and representation for those who can least afford it.

Reasons for undercounting are many, including lack of understanding, lack of interest, language barriers and people changing addresses. "One of the biggest problems is that people don't trust the government," says Robert Perez of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Completing the census questionnaire is safe -- the information you provide is strictly confidential and well-protected. By law the Census Bureau can't share questionnaire information with others, including welfare agencies, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Internal Revenue Service, courts, police or the military. Anyone who breaks this law is subject to years in prison and thousands in fines. Individual records are held confidential for 72 years. In 2072, your great-grandchildren may want to use census information to research family history.

Because we've had a census every 10 years since 1790, we know how far America has come and every man, woman and child counts!