WASHINGTON — As the Supreme Court considers the issue of adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are examining how adding such a question could impact their local communities.
- Supreme Court to issue decision on issue in late June
- Some lawmakers concerned addition could adversely affect representation
- Census Bureau director: Information will not be sent to other agencies
- More Politics stories
One in every 11 Floridians is a noncitizen. Some believe the addition of this question could cost millions of dollars in funding - and ultimately representation - in Congress.
In late June, the Supreme Court will decide whether the Trump Administration can include a citizenship question on the 2020 census. That decision will come down just ahead of the bureau’s July 1 deadline to print out the forms.
“I’m worried the bureau remains seriously unready to administer a census that includes a citizenship question,” said Rep. José E. Serrano (D-New York) during a hearing on Capitol Hill this week.
Lawmakers are already looking for clarity on possible implementation before a decision has been made.
“We have two systems ready to go as to which questionnaire will be printed," said U.S. Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham. "After that, we have a process in place and an execution plan that will proceed, regardless."
Reaching hard-to-count populations
The Trump Administration said the question is necessary to better enforce the Voting Rights Act.
Rep. Charlie Crist, however, is concerned the question could lead to a significant undercount.
“There are estimates that Florida could pick up two more congressional seats after the next census,” Crist told us. “But if we have a lot of people throughout the state who are intimidated from answering the questions or cooperating with the census, that may not happen which would hurt our citizens, hurt our taxpayers,” he added.
Officials are reassuring lawmakers they are doing everything to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“We consider the hard-to-count population our number one priority,” Dillingham said during the hearing in response to a question from Crist. “We are designing some of the best media campaigns, where the English isn’t the primary language, they will be speaking those languages."
Who else gets the information?
Dillingham also vowed the information they collect will not be sent to other government agencies.
“There have been pickups by ICE in these communities,” Rep. Nita Lowey (D-New York) said.
“You have no responsibility to report to anyone, Secretary Ross, how many people are citizens, how many people are not. Is that is correct?” Lowey later asked.
"That is exactly correct," Dillingham answered. "Except for the fact that we encourage everyone to complete the questions.”
Both Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott are in favor of adding the question.
The Census Bureau plans to test the citizenship question in a nationwide survey this summer to help the agency better understand what resources are needed ahead of next year.