Hoyer, Brown Statement on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's Hearing on the 2020 Census

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) released the following statement today after the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing on the 2020 Census:

"Congress must make fully funding the 2020 Census a top priority. It is disappointing that year after year, Republicans continue to dangerously underfund the U.S. Census Bureau. We must properly fund the census every fiscal year – not just during years in which the census is taking place – in order to ensure the agency is able to prepare for the next census. With the support of Secretary Ross and the Commerce Department, we urge Congress to quickly appropriate the additional funding needed for the agency to effectively carry out the 2020 Census.

"We must work to ensure that all Americans are fairly represented, and an accurate 2020 Census that counts all individuals is critically important. We will continue to support efforts to make certain that the upcoming census is adequately funded, and urge appropriators to sufficiently fund this important piece of our democratic process."

The Commerce Department recently announced their projection that the 2020 Census will cost $15.6 billion, which is $3.3 billion more than previously estimated and $5 billion more than the 2010 count. Since 2012, Congress has appropriated less funding every fiscal year than requested by the Census Bureau, leaving the agency far behind where it needs to be in preparation for the 2020 Census. Both the Trump Administration's initial request for funding for Fiscal Year 2018 and the increased request presented today by Secretary Ross fall below the levels of funding needed to sufficiently fund the 2020 Census.