(Black PR Wire) Washington, D.C. -- Recently, the Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Senator McConnell, Minority Leader Senator Schumer, House Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leader McCarthy requesting the recent budget deal  to provide the Census Bureau with $7.5 billion for the upcoming 2020 Census count. Current funding levels within the budget deal consist of a lower $2.5 billion cap exemption for the 2020 Census.  On Thursday, July 25, 2019, the Congressional Black Caucus along with Members of the House of Representatives reached a bipartisan budget agreement with Senate leadership and the current Administration to increase discretionary funding limits for 2020 and 2021. This agreement represents a vast improvement over the harmful cuts presented in President’s 2020 budget.  Congresswoman Karen Bass, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement in response:

“The 55 members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) represent 26 states and the District of Columbia. Of these, the highest expected undercounts for Black populations are projected in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Georgia,” said Chairwoman Bass. “According to the Fair Count organization, undercounts of Black people in these 26 states and the District of Columbia are estimated to cost $2.9 billion in missed funding every year for the next decade. We must hold the Trump administration accountable during the 2020 Census rollout. The Census Bureau will rely more on technology and half of the number of offices from the last decennial census. Additionally, the administration has threatened to include a citizenship question to its questionnaire, which only promotes fear and stigma in immigrant communities and deters participation. Without proper oversight and funding, the Census Bureau’s 2020 Census count will result in large undercounts of the Black population, and have unintended consequences for all communities of color, seniors, the incarcerated, and children. Therefore, it is our hope that Leadership in both Chambers will set aside political differences to do what is best for the American people.”

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