Title: Recognizing the vital importance of Native American participation in the 2020 decennial census of population.
Policy area: Native Americans

Summary:
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that ensuring an accurate count of American Indians and Alaska Natives is vital for the 2020 decennial census of population and that an undercount of such population could result in underrepresentation and underfunding for tribal households.
The resolution also expresses the sense that federal, state, and local governments and tribal nations should work together to encourage participation in the 2020 decennial census of population.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 872 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 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;
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
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) ensuring an accurate count of American Indians and 
        Alaska Natives is vital for the essence and purpose of the 2020 
        decennial census of population;
            (2) an undercount of American Indians and Alaska Natives 
        could result in significant underrepresentation and 
        underfunding for American Indian and Alaska Native Nations and 
        households; and
            (3) the Federal Government, State and local governments, 
        and Tribal Nations should work together as partners to 
        encourage participation in the 2020 decennial census of 
        population among American Indian and Alaska Native Nations, and 
        to inform the public that the 2020 decennial census of 
        population is safe, easy, and important.
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