Congressman Cohen Urges Census Participation

The 2010 Census is one of the shortest in U.S. history, consisting of just ten questions about the number of people living in each home and some demographic information about them.

“It is vital that every citizen is counted. Our community cannot afford to lose out on crucial federal funds and programs,” said Congressman Cohen. “In the last three years more than $2 billion in federal funding has been awarded to the 9th District for our schools, libraries, community centers, hospitals, first response teams, and senior centers. Many federal agencies rely on Census data when awarding funding. This year’s form is the shortest in history. Taking the time to answer 10 simple questions will help the 9th District get the federal funding it deserves and needs.”

The 2000 Census had an estimated undercount of more than three million people. According to a recent PriceWaterhouseCoopers report, areas most affected by Census undercounting lose about $2,913 in federal funding for each person.

The results of the 2010 Census will determine how more than $445 billion in federal funds are distributed to state, local, and tribal governments over the next decade. These funds are used for school lunch programs, senior citizen centers, and new construction for highways and hospitals, as well as determining which schools receive funding for improvements. It also affects representation in Congress and the Electoral College.

Congressman Warns of Census Scams

As with other public efforts, Tennessee residents should be aware of fake Census scams that attempt to collect personal information. The Census Bureau has received complaints about deceptive mailings that include envelopes marked “Census” and include a “census tracking code.” Official Census Bureau documents will never ask for your full social security number, money, or a donation, PIN codes, passwords or other similar access information for credit cards, banks, or other financial accounts. Also, the Bureau never sends requests on behalf of a political party.

Citizens should review all mailings carefully to ensure that they are indeed from the Census Bureau. If residents are suspicious of a mailing, they can contact Congressman Steve Cohen’s office, the Census Bureau, or other Postmaster General’s office.

For additional information about the 2010 Census, please call Congressman Steve Cohen’s District Office at (901) 544-4131 or visit https://2010.census.gov.

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