Congressman Gonzalez Asks United States Census Bureau to Open Regional Office in Hidalgo County in Anticipation of 2020 Census

WASHINGTON—Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) sent a letter to the Acting Director of the United States Census Bureau, Dr. Ron Jarmin, urging the Bureau to promptly open an office in the Rio Grande Valley to ensure an efficient, effective, and accurate Census in 2020. The congressman joined local leaders in asserting that a regional office and additional funding could help to break a pattern of inaccurate counts in past censuses.

"An accurate and effective Census requires adequate preparation and on the ground support," Congressman Gonzalez said. "Opening a Regional Office in our area would be a step in the right direction toward a more accurate and effective Census."

A Regional Census Office in Hidalgo County would enable the Census Bureau and local partners to properly survey the population and ensure it captures the area's recent growth. By allocating additional funding to open a regional office in Hidalgo County, the Bureau can address past issues and carry out a more efficient and accurate Census in 2020.

Read the full letter below to Acting Director Jarmin:

September 27, 2017

Acting Director Ron Jarmin

U.S. Census Bureau

4600 Silver Hill Rd.

Washington, D.C. 20233

Dear Dr. Jarmin,

I write to voice my concern about the U.S. Census Bureau's ability to accurately count the residents of Hidalgo County, Texas, in the 2020 Census. The Bureau is set to receive $164 million dollars less than it requested from Congress. This lack of funding would inevitably lead to the cancellation, delays, or streamlining of critical Census 2020 planning activities. Myself and the communities I represent worry that as long as inadequate support persists, Hidalgo County will be without the necessary resources to conduct a successful Census.

In the past, the Census has improperly surveyed the population of Hidalgo County, creating a consistent pattern of undercounting. Today I would like to offer assistance in helping the Census Bureau obtain adequate funding to support comprehensive, timely preparations for the Census. These activities include: performing the customary ‘dress rehearsal'; finishing cost-saving In-Office Address Canvassing procedures; developing a robust communication campaign and language assistance programs; scaling up the IT infrastructure in the area; and opening regional census offices. A Regional Census Office in Hidalgo County could not only enable Hidalgo County to properly survey our population and obtain an accurate count, but also allow our communities to more adequately capture the rapid growth that we continue to experience.

By allocating additional funding to adequately prepare and open a regional office in Hidalgo County, Texas, we can address the problems of the past and reach our common goal of carrying out a more efficient and accurate Census in 2020. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I appreciate your timely response and look forward to working with you to ensure that our region and the entire country are prepared for the upcoming Census. Please feel free to reach out to our office, (202) 225-2531, and let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

Sincerely,

Vicente Gonzalez

Member of Congress