Recognizing the vital importance of Native American participation in the 2020 decennial census of population.

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 Na- tives; Whereas the Federal Government, Tribal Nations, and deci- sion 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 obliga- tion to protect Tribal treaty rights, lands, assets, and re- sources, as well as a duty to carry out the mandates of VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:54 Feb 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR872.IH HR872 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 872 IH Federal law with respect to American Indian and Alaska Native Nations; Whereas 2020 census data will be used to evaluate govern- ment programs and policies to ensure they fairly and eq- uitably serve the needs of all groups of people and to monitor compliance with antidiscrimination laws, regula- tions, and policies; Whereas States will also use 2020 census data to meet legis- lative 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 opportuni- ties, and areas of growth for future decision making; Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have histori- cally been at a higher risk for undercounting in the cen- sus than other populations; Whereas, in the 2010 census, the Census Bureau estimates that American Indians and Alaska Natives living on res- ervations or in Native villages were undercounted by ap- proximately 4.9 percent, more than double the undercount rate of the next closest population group; Whereas 2020 census data will affect the allocation of ap- proximately $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 re- sponsibility; Whereas undercounting of American Indian and Alaska Na- tives could significantly undercut Federal funding levels for various programs for 10 years; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:54 Feb 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR872.IH HR872 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •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 distribu- tion 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 en- forcement, including Federal, local, and Tribal authori- ties; 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 En- forcement; 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 Rep- 1 resentatives that— 2 (1) ensuring an accurate count of American In- 3 dians and Alaska Natives is vital for the essence and 4 purpose of the 2020 decennial census of population; 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:54 Feb 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR872.IH HR872 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 872 IH (2) an undercount of American Indians and 1 Alaska Natives could result in significant underrep- 2 resentation and underfunding for American Indian 3 and Alaska Native Nations and households; and 4 (3) the Federal Government, State and local 5 governments, and Tribal Nations should work to- 6 gether as partners to encourage participation in the 7 2020 decennial census of population among Amer- 8 ican Indian and Alaska Native Nations, and to in- 9 form the public that the 2020 decennial census of 10 population is safe, easy, and important. 11 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:54 Feb 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR872.IH HR872 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS