N.M. Delegation, Governor To Hold Press Call On 2020 Census, What’s At Stake For New Mexico

September 9, 2020
Press Release
An incomplete or inaccurate count could underfund communities for the next decade

WASHINGTON – On Thursday, September 10, at 9 a.m. MT/ 11 a.m. ET, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich; U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján, Deb Haaland, Xochitl Torres Small; and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will hold a press teleconference on the 2020 Census and what’s at stake for New Mexico.

The New Mexico delegation and Governor Lujan Grisham have serious concerns about the Trump administration’s decision to end Census field data collection activities by September 30, 2020—one month earlier than previously planned. During the teleconference, they will discuss the importance of a full, fair, and accurate 2020 Census and how an incomplete count could reduce millions of dollars in federal funding in the state’s annual budget.

On April 13, 2020, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they would be adjusting 2020 Census operations. At the same time, they had requested that the Congress extend the statutory deadlines “for apportionment counts to be delivered to the President by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than July 31, 2021.” This would have given the Census Bureau adequate time to compile the data sets in light of the delayed enumeration window. However, the Trump administration has reversed course and shortened the enumeration period from October 31 to September 30, 2020, citing these statutory constraints. 

***Press interested in attending should RSVP at press@heinrich.senate.gov or call (202) 228-1578.***

Washington, D.C. – Tomorrow, Thursday, September 10, 2020

WHO: 

U.S. Senator Tom Udall

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich

U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján

U.S. Representative Deb Haaland

U.S. Representative Xochitl Torres Small

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

WHAT: Press call to discuss importance of 2020 Census

WHEN: Tomorrow, Thursday, September 10 at 9 a.m. MT/ 11 a.m. ET

DIAL-IN: Please call (202) 228-0808; Conference ID: 628017

Issues: 
Children & Families, Civil Rights & Equality, Congress, Economy & Jobs, Education, Tribes