Congressman Steven Horsford Safeguards Census Citizenship Data

Washington, D.C. -- Today, Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus 2020 Census Task Force, introduced a bill to nullify the effect of President Trump's Executive Order that requires Federal agencies to share citizenship data.

"Our founders included the decennial Census in the Constitution because a representative democracy depends on an accurate count of its people, and any attempt to undermine such an important aspect of our democracy is wrong. The executive order directing federal agencies to compile citizenship data through administrative records and merge it with decennial census data is a blatant effort to collect this information for political and discriminatory purposes," Congressman Horsford said.

"The results of the Census will determine congressional representation, federal funding, and essential programs our communities depend on. The sharing of this information could cause an inaccurate allocation of more than $800 billion of taxpayer funds for critical programs like Medicaid, SNAP, infrastructure projects and education grants. An undercounting of our state's citizens would silence the voices of Nevadans in the democratic system. "

DHSrecently announced that it willshare administrative records with the Census Bureau, including citizenship information. This is, in part, spurred by the administration'sExecutive Order directing all agencies to provide these types of administrative records.

Co-sponsors of this legislation include Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Yvette Clarke (NY-09),AdrianoEspaillat (NY-13), Chuy Garcia (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Raul Grijalva (AZ-03), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Darren Soto (FL-09), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Juan Vargas (CA-51), Filemon Vela (TX-03), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

This legislation is endorsed by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), National Black Justice Coalition, Arab American Institute, NETWORK Lobby, Voices for Progress, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, NALEO Education Fund, Common Cause, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, The Union of Concerned Scientists, National Employment Law Project, and The National Urban League.