R 185 |
2019 -- H 5939 Enacted 04/02/2019 |
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 |
WHEREAS, April 1, 2019, marks one year until the 2020 Census; and |
WHEREAS, The 2020 Census will be critically important to the future of Rhode Island |
and even a minor undercount would have dire implications that would last for at least a decade; |
and |
WHEREAS, Federal funds are disbursed based on population which is determined by the |
Census, and include funding for healthcare, infrastructure, housing, rural communities, and local |
municipalities; and |
WHEREAS, One third of Rhode Island's state budget is comprised of those federal |
dollars; and |
WHEREAS, In addition, if initial estimates on Rhode Island's population figures hold |
true, the state is projected to lose one of its two United States House seats, which will critically |
impede Rhode Island's ability to ensure fair political representation in Washington; and |
WHEREAS, One of the concerns to ensuring a fair and accurate count in the 2020 |
Census for Rhode Island is that there are significant numbers of groups considered “hard to |
count,” including immigrants who may or may not have legal status, non-fluent English speakers, |
low-income and homeless people, racial and ethnic minorities, and young people; and |
WHEREAS, It is vital that all avenues of access to accomplishing a comprehensive and |
inclusive Census be pursued by businesses, media outlets, community organizations, and state |
and local agencies; now, therefore be it |
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
Providence Plantations hereby recognizes and supports the "Census Day of Action" and the |
outreach efforts of local governments and community based organizations, particularly those with |
connections to traditionally hard to count and undercounted communities; and be it further |
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
transmit duly certified copies, of this resolution to the Honorable Gina Raimondo, Governor of |
the State of Rhode Island, and the Honorable Nellie M. Gorbea, Secretary of State. |
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LC002267 |
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