[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE ENSURING FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE CENSUS ACT OF 
                                  2024

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2024

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Ensuring Full 
Participation in the Census Act of 2024, which would prohibit the U.S. 
Census Bureau (Bureau) from including questions on the decennial census 
about citizenship, nationality or immigration status.
  Prior to the 2020 census, the Department of Justice wrote to the 
Bureau requesting that it ``reinstate on the 2020 [c]ensus 
questionnaire a question regarding citizenship.'' From 1970 to 2000, 
this question was sent to only approximately 16 percent of the 
population in the decennial census through the so-called ``long-form.'' 
However, the long-form system was dropped from the census and replaced 
with the current American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is sent to 
approximately three million people annually on a rotational basis, and 
allows the Bureau to get the necessary information on citizenship. 
Asking questions about citizenship status to every person in the 
decennial census has not been done in almost 70 years because it would 
discourage people, largely minorities, who are already undercounted in 
the census, from participating in the census. The ACS was created to 
make the decennial census simpler for people to complete, which 
facilitates higher participation rates and preserves privacy.
  Fortunately, after a protracted legal and political process, the 
citizenship question was not included on the 2020 census. However, this 
legislation is necessary to ensure it cannot be asked on a future 
decennial census. The representative sampling provided by the ACS is 
more than sufficient to determine citizenship statistics in the U.S. We 
must ensure that all individuals are counted in the decennial census, 
thereby providing accurate allocation of federal funds and 
representation in Congress, and not reduce participation by asking a 
question that is already asked elsewhere.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                          ____________________