Remember the Census: Your response is critical

WILMER – Texas has a 43.7-percent self-response to the census so far.

The U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham last week commemorated the milestone that nationally, “Half of all the households in the country have responded [to the 2020 census] and that’s nearly 74-million responses.”

In the City of Wilmer where the census self-response rate is at 42.1-percent, City Administrator Rona Stringfellow said, “There has never been a more important time for the city to come together.

“The 2020 Census is so important because it means additional funding for the city for services.

“That is not all though, we could be looking at n e w schools, hospitals and even public safety facilities because of all of us working together to be counted.”

While some residents in the U.S. have questions about the census and how safe and confidential it is, here is the fact.

The information you provide for the census is confidential.

Title 13 of the U.S. Code ensures the protection and confidentiality of your information.

Title 13 ensures that private information is never published, personal information cannot be used against respondents by any government agency or court and every person with access to your data is sworn for life to protect your information.

State Rep. Carl Sherman, District 109 said he is encouraging everyone to complete their census because it is very important for everyone to stand up and be counted.

“There has never been a more important time for all American’s of every ethnicity to come together and complete the 2020 census forms,” he added.

The communities most at risk of not being counted according to the Census Bureau are apartment renters, immigrants, children ages 0 to five, and young adults ages 18 to 24. However, these groups are very important too.

American is a strong and diverse country and all those living in the United States are responsible for being counted with no fear.

The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years.

The 2020 Census counts everyone who lives in the U.S. as of April 1, 2020. Census statistics help determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local, and federal lawmakers every year for the next 10 years.

“I want to thank the residents of Wilmer for their participation in the census thus far,” Stringfellow concluded.

“The city’s self-response rate earlier this week 42.1-percent compared to Texas’ self-response rate of 43.7-percent - great job!”