Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following remarks on the House Floor on H.Res. 1096, which encourages individuals across the United States to participate in the 2010 Census.  The Census count will begin April 1, 2010.   The Resolution also designates March 2010 as National Census Awareness Month.  H.Res. 1096 passed the House by a vote of 409 to 1. 

“Madam Speaker: I rise today to support H.Res. 1096, a resolution introduced by my colleague, Representative Silvestre Reyes (D-TX16), which encourages individuals across the country to participate in the 2010 census to ensure an accurate and complete count beginning April 1, 2010.

“Article I Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution requires that the enumeration of every individual residing in the United States, is taken every ten years.  This month, every household across the nation will have received a 10-question census form known as the Decennial Census. 

“The importance of correctly filling out and returning this form cannot be overstated. First, data from the Census directly affects how more than $400 billion in federal funds are spent, at all levels of government, and thus, helps determine how and what resources are allocated to a community.  Put another way, if our community members don’t fill out the census, they will find they are not getting funding to support their needs.  Census data is used to determine which schools receive funding for improvements, where new hospitals and roads are built, what new maps are needed for first responders, and where economic investment should be made.

“Second, the data from the Census dictates how the U.S. House of Representatives is reapportioned, how each state is redistricted, and how the Electoral College is distributed.  I don’t need to remind all of my constituents of the importance of ensuring they are properly represented on the federal, state, and local levels. 

“Filling out the Census is fast (taking most just 10 minutes to complete), safe (the information is treated by law as confidential) and easy to complete (there are just 10, simple questions). 

“I hope that elected officials at all levels of government, across the country and in Michigan’s 15th Congressional District will educate their constituents about the importance of completing the 2010 Census, and, Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House to join me in supporting this resolution.”

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