Getting the Best Census Count for a Growing Texas

Today I joined a number of community based groups from across the state and nation in advocating for a complete census count.

It is imperative that Texas have a statewide strategy for an accurate and complete count. Texas has the second highest hard-to-count areas in the country. The populations in these areas include children and residents who are low-income, lack a high school diploma, are limited English proficient, live in multi-family homes, receive public assistance, and/or are highly mobile. The 2000 Census left an estimated 373,567 people in Texas uncounted. As a result, Texas missed out on approximately $2,913 in federal funds per person – a total loss of over $1 billion over the last decade. This decade, due to population growth, Texas is expected to gain three or four congressional seats in the next apportionment. The difference of one Congressional seat for Texas affects our ability to represent our interests at a national level. In addition, with an accurate Census count, Texas will gain a greater share of the over $400 billion distributed annually to communities across the count ry for programs such as school construction, early childhood programs, services to the elderly, job training programs and roads. These are funds that Texas desperately needs to ensure its economic stability.

Where I live in Hidalgo County we rank number 11 in the U.S. in the number of people living in "hard to count" areas. We are number 2 in percent of people in "hard to count" areas.

MALDEF in collaboration with grassroots leaders has formed the Texas Latino Complete Count Committee in order to reach the hardest to count communities.

Their partners in the Texas Latino Complete Count Committee include: LULAC, SVREP, WCVI, TACHE, MATT, AFL-CIO, HACU, IDRA, Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, Texas Media Empowerment Project, Southwest Workers Union, the Rio Grande Guardian, TABE, and the University Leadership Initiative.

At today's press conference MALDEF thanked its partners for stepping forward to take ownership of the state's collective future and encouraged others to carry the message forward.

The message I send to the citizens of Texas is that together we can have a successful 2010 Census and ensure that our voice is heard and that our people our counted.