Feinstein, Harris Urge Californians to Participate in 2020 Census

Washington—Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) issued a proclamation urging Californians to take part in the 2020 Census in order to ensure an accurate count for federal funding and congressional representation.

            “The census is fundamental to our democracy. From representation in Congress to federal funding, its effects are felt across California and throughout the country,” said Senator Feinstein. “I strongly urge every single individual living in California to participate in the 2020 Census and make sure their community’s voice is heard.”

            “Our democracy depends on having a full and accurate Census count every 10 years,” said Senator Harris. “We must take every step to ensure that every person in our country is counted, particularly in light of this administration’s failed attempts to intimidate and silence communities of color and immigrant communities. I’m proud to join with Senator Feinstein in urging every Californian to participate in next year’s Census to ensure that the voice of everyone in our state is heard and represented.”

            Full text of the proclamation is available here and below.

Proclamation In Support Of A Complete And Accurate 2020 Census

            The United States Constitution requires that a census be taken every ten years to count all residents of the United States. An accurate census is vital to the prosperity of our state and country. The census affects both the allocation of billions of dollars in federal and state funding for Californians as well as our congressional representation.

            The census is a critical tool that protects our communities. Census results guide planning for hospitals and health services, determine the location of schools and child care centers, and influence decision making for transportation and housing needs, among many other issues.

            Because millions of Californians live in “hard-to-count” neighborhoods, a robust outreach and awareness campaign is necessary to ensure a full count of all California residents to benefit our communities.

            As U.S. Senators from California, we support a complete, fair, and accurate 2020 Census and proclaim our commitment to achieving this goal.

            Census participation is important and safe. The 2020 Census does not contain a citizenship question. Residents’ legal status will not be asked or documented. We encourage all California residents to respond to the Census.

            Importantly, federal law protects the confidentiality of census responses and census data can only be released in an anonymous, statistical form.

            Federal law also prohibits the sharing of individual or household data with any governmental agency for any purpose or any reason, including law enforcement and immigration enforcement.

            Therefore, we urge all California residents to participate in the census. Californians’ participation in the 2020 Census is essential to ensure our state and communities receive the critical resources and political representation we deserve. #CaliforniaCounts

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
California

Kamala D. Harris
United States Senator
California