Every ten years, the government counts every person living in the United States. The census data is then used to inform the amount of federal funds communities receive to support vital services for you and your community. An accurate count can mean improvements to hospitals, fire departments, schools, and roads. An undercount can mean less federal aid to improve our communities. The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

In Texas, we currently stand at a 58.3% response rate. That is one of the lowest response rates to the census in decades. And now, the Census Bureau has announced that it will end data collection a full month early, on September 30th. This will result in many vulnerable populations being undercounted — and ultimately, their needs underrepresented in funding of critical programs and in congressional representation.

Here is how you can prevent that from happening…

1. Complete the 2020 Census now, if you haven’t already.
2. Talk to your friends and neighbors to ask them if they have completed the census.
3. Send an email to your Senator about protecting the census in the next COVID-relief package.
4. Share this message to others so that they can also email their Senator!

We need to be counted and make sure our family, friends, and neighbors are counted. We have the power to shape what the future of our communities look like. Please take action today. Complete the census and send a message to your Senator today.