(WASHINGTON, D.C.)— Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Chairman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) today hosted a roundtable discussion on Maryland’s response to the 2020 Census with Shawn Ellis, Eileen Mitchell and Laura Russell, 2020 Census Coordinators from Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll Counties, which can be viewed here. Following the roundtable, Rep. Raskin released a new report prepared by Subcommittee staff reinforcing the importance of complete 2020 Census participation by 8th District constituents.

Data collected by the Census is used to determine how much funding the District receives for critical services like education, medical care, foster care, roads, public transit, and job programs. Census data also helps local governments enhance public safety and prepare for emergencies.

“This new report makes it clear that a complete Census count is essential for our District,” said Rep. Raskin. “We are in an ongoing public health crisis and global economic downturn, making it more crucial than ever before for us to secure the federal funding we need to maintain critical services like medical care, education, and employment programs over the next decade. I urge every resident to fulfill their civic duty by completing the Census form today. Every person in our district must be counted so we get every federal dollar we are entitled to.”

Chairman Raskin urges households in the 8th District to complete their Census forms right now—from the comfort of their own homes—by going online to https://2020census.gov/, calling 844-330-2020, or filling out the form they received in the mail. The 2020 Census only has 12 questions and does not ask about citizenship.

The new report details that if there is just a 1% undercount in the 2020 Census, the residents of the 8th District of Maryland could lose:

  • $215,000 in federal funding for schools that have a high proportion of low-income students, or the equivalent of all the textbooks that 860 students would need in a school year.
  • $120,000 in federal funding for job training centers and career counseling.

Click here to read the full report.

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