IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 872 

Recognizing the vital importance of Native American participation in the 

2020 decennial census of population. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 27, 2020 

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma (for herself, Mr. COLE, Ms. HAALAND, 

Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. PALLONE, Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas, Ms. BASS, and Mr. 

TED LIEU of California) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the vital importance of Native American 

participation in the 2020 decennial census of population. 

Whereas the 2020 United States census is an opportunity to 

provide a better future for Tribal Nations by providing 

an accurate count of American Indians and Alaska Natives; 

Whereas the Federal Government, Tribal Nations, and decision makers will use 2020 census data in a variety of 

ways that can benefit Tribal Nations; 

Whereas under the Federal Indian trust responsibility, the 

United States has a legally enforceable fiduciary obligation to protect Tribal treaty rights, lands, assets, and resources, as well as a duty to carry out the mandates of 


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•HRES 872 IH 

Federal law with respect to American Indian and Alaska 

Native Nations; 

Whereas 2020 census data will be used to evaluate government programs and policies to ensure they fairly and equitably serve the needs of all groups of people and to 

monitor compliance with antidiscrimination laws, regulations, and policies; 

Whereas States will also use 2020 census data to meet legislative redistricting and apportionment requirements; 

Whereas many Tribal Nations will use census data to make 

governmental decisions on allocating resources, the needs 

of their communities, economic development opportunities, and areas of growth for future decision making; 

Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have historically been at a higher risk for undercounting in the census than other populations; 

Whereas, in the 2010 census, the Census Bureau estimates 

that American Indians and Alaska Natives living on reservations or in Native villages were undercounted by approximately 4.9 percent, more than double the 

undercount rate of the next closest population group; 

Whereas 2020 census data will affect the allocation of approximately $1,500,000,000,000 in Federal funds; 

Whereas 2020 census responses can help shape how billions 

of dollars in Federal funds are allocated each year to 

Tribal Nations in furtherance of the Federal trust responsibility; 

Whereas undercounting of American Indian and Alaska Natives could significantly undercut Federal funding levels 

for various programs for 10 years; 


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•HRES 872 IH 

Whereas Federal funding for Indian schools and education 

programs, Native American workforce programs, Indian 

health programs, Indian housing programs, water and 

sewage projects, roads, and economic development are 

based on data collected by the Census Bureau every 10 

years; 

Whereas over 300 Federal spending programs rely on data 

derived from the census to guide the geographic distribution of funds to States, counties, cities, and households; 

Whereas responses to the 2020 census are confidential and 

protected by law; 

Whereas personal information is never shared by the Census 

Bureau with any other government agencies or law enforcement, including Federal, local, and Tribal authorities; 

Whereas census responses cannot be used against individuals 

by any government agency or court in any way—not by 

the Federal Bureau of Investigation, not by the Central 

Intelligence Agency, not by the Department of Homeland 

Security, and not by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and 

Whereas the 2020 census will offer households the option to 

respond online, by mail, by phone, or in person: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) ensuring an accurate count of American In4 dians and Alaska Natives is vital for the essence and 

5 purpose of the 2020 decennial census of population; 


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•HRES 872 IH 

1 (2) an undercount of American Indians and 

2 Alaska Natives could result in significant underrep3 resentation and underfunding for American Indian 

4 and Alaska Native Nations and households; and 

5 (3) the Federal Government, State and local 

6 governments, and Tribal Nations should work to7 gether as partners to encourage participation in the 

8 2020 decennial census of population among Amer9 ican Indian and Alaska Native Nations, and to in10 form the public that the 2020 decennial census of 

11 population is safe, easy, and important. 

Æ 


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