Hispanic Federation urges US Senate to pass 2020 Census Deadline Extension Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 15, 2020
Contact:
Matthew Rojas
mrojas@hispanicfederation.org
New York -- Today, Hispanic Federation, one of the nation’s leading organizations dedicated to supporting and empowering the Hispanic community, offered its strong support of the bipartisan 2020 Census Deadline Extension Act, introduced by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) which would restore the 2020 Census field count operation deadline to October 31, 2020.
“Failing to provide adequate time and resources to ensure an accurate Census count and data collection is a decision that will haunt our country beyond the next decade, impacting marginalized communities the most,” said Frankie Miranda, President of Hispanic Federation. “With the introduction of this bill, every Senator must now decide if this nation will allow the time necessary to ensure the most reliable count or undercut the information we use as a basis to operate our democracy.”
Since the beginning of the year, Hispanic Federation has been operating a Census engagement program, primarily targeted toward Hispanic communities in the continental United States and in Puerto Rico. Through virtual phone and text messaging banks and partnering with Telemundo, Univision, ABC Owned Television Stations, and other local media, the organization has contacted over 500,000 people.
Last week, Hispanic Federation, in partnership with eight ABC affiliates in North Carolina, New York, California, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania hosted a virtual phone bank during the afternoon and evening news. With approximately 4,200 calls, 58% of callers expressed confusion about where or how to complete the Census questionnaire.
“Despite the tremendous efforts of local communities, non-profits, and the media, there is still a lot of confusion about the Census, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis,” added Miranda. “Honoring the originally requested October 31st deadline for field operations would give organizations like Hispanic Federation needed time to help the U.S. Census Bureau fulfill their constitutional mandate to count every person.
We urge the U.S. Senate to pass the 2020 Census Deadline Extension Act because ensuring the integrity of decennial Census is one of the most consequential tasks of Congress and our communities cannot afford for Congress to fail in this duty.”
The 2020 Census Deadline Extension Act would extend the statutory deadline for the delivery of apportionment data by four months—from December 31, 2020 to April 30, 2021. It would also extend the statutory delivery of redistricting data by four months—from March 30, 2020 to July 31, 2021. In addition, it would require the Census Bureau to return the original end date of the 2020 Census field operation to October 31, 2020.
For more information on the bill visit: https://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-murkowski-sullivan-introduce-bill-to-extend-key-2020-census-deadlines-due-to-covid-19-pandemic
