2019 -- H 5939

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LC002267

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING AND ADVOCATING SUPPORT FOR THE "CENSUS DAY OF ACTION"

IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Alzate, Walsh, Barros, and Almeida

     Date Introduced: April 02, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, April 1, 2019, marks one year until the 2020 Census; and

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     WHEREAS, The 2020 Census will be critically important to the future of Rhode Island

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and even a minor undercount would have dire implications that would last for at least a decade;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Federal funds are disbursed based on population which is determined by the

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Census, and include funding for healthcare, infrastructure, housing, rural communities, and local

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municipalities; and

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     WHEREAS, One third of Rhode Island's state budget is comprised of those federal

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dollars; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition, if initial estimates on Rhode Island's population figures hold

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true, the state is projected to lose one of its two United States House seats, which will critically

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impede Rhode Island's ability to ensure fair political representation in Washington; and

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     WHEREAS, One of the concerns to ensuring a fair and accurate count in the 2020

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Census for Rhode Island is that there are significant numbers of groups considered “hard to

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count,” including immigrants who may or may not have legal status, non-fluent English speakers,

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low-income and homeless people, racial and ethnic minorities, and young people; and

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     WHEREAS, It is vital that all avenues of access to accomplishing a comprehensive and

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inclusive Census be pursued by businesses, media outlets, community organizations, and state

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and local agencies; now, therefore be it

 

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby recognizes and supports the "Census Day of Action" and the

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outreach efforts of local governments and community based organizations, particularly those with

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connections to traditionally hard to count and undercounted communities; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies, of this resolution to the Honorable Gina Raimondo, Governor of

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the State of Rhode Island, and the Honorable Nellie M. Gorbea, Secretary of State.

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LC002267

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