Press Call Briefing: 2020 Census at Risk as Funding and Operational Decisions Continue to Loom

Census and Data Equity News 08.21,17

WASHINGTON – On Thursday, August 24 at 12:00 p.m. ET, leading civil rights organizations and census experts will host a one-hour telephone press briefing to discuss on-going policy decisions that are putting a successful 2020 Census at risk, including a lack of sufficient funding for rigorous, on-time census planning and preparations, and the need for a highly qualified and widely respected professional to serve as the next Senate-confirmed director of the U.S. Census Bureau.

The 2020 Census will be in full swing in two and a half years; hiring and address updating has started for a vital 2018 dress rehearsal. Yet, Congress’ failure to allocate timely and adequate funding for the Census Bureau in 2017 already has stymied plans for the dry run and delayed work on a multi-million dollar communications campaign. The Trump administration’s FY 2018 budget request for the Census Bureau is woefully inadequate and unrealistic. So far, however, congressional appropriators have not approved more money, with growing consequences for activities that could help ensure a successful census in historically hard-to-count communities. The essential work of preparing for the next decennial count is in a critical period; decisions being made this year by Congress and the Trump administration will determine whether the Census Bureau has the resources and leadership it needs to do the job well.

The U.S. Constitution requires a census every 10 years, and the promise of equal representation for all communities in our democracy rests on a fair and accurate count. Communities of color, urban and rural low-income households, immigrants, and young children (especially Black and Latino) are all at risk of being missed at disproportionately high rates. Congress has constitutional responsibility for making sure the enumeration is done well.

Please RSVP to [email protected].

WHEN: Thursday, August 24, at 12:00 p.m. ET

WHO:

  • Vanita Gupta, President and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and The Leadership Conference Education Fund
  • Arturo Vargas, Executive Director, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund
  • John C. Yang, President and Executive director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
  • Terri Ann Lowenthal, former Staff Director, House Census and Population Subcommittee, and consultant to The Leadership Conference Education Fund

DIAL-IN INFORMATION:

Dial-in:  877-888-4312

Conf. ID: CENSUS