2020 census effort launched

Yesterday, the city of Austin and Travis County launched a campaign to ensure an accurate 2020 census. A press conference about the effort noted that undercounting Texas residents by 1 percent could result in at least $300 million in lost federal funding determined by the census. A press release explained, “This year campaigners are concerned about a potential addition of a citizenship question added to the Census. This decision is pending and awaiting response from the U.S. Supreme Court. Additionally, the underfunding of the Census Bureau and changing demographics in the State could add up to a significant undercount for Texas.” To combat that, the city, county and the Austin-Travis County Complete Count Committee will work over the next year to raise awareness and increase participation in the census. Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said, “Because the 2020 census is a year away, the hard work to make certain we have an accurate count must begin today. Whether it is protecting our voting rights during redistricting or the allocation of federal funds to local communities, census data plays a critical role in all our lives.”