Congress of the United States
Washington, BC 20515
June 24, 2019
The Honorable Wilbur Ross, Jr
Secretary
US Department of Commerce
101 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington DC 20230
Dear Secretary Ross:
We write to you with concems about 2020 Census self-response rates in New Jersey, and seeking
information regarding steps that the U.S. Census Bureau is taking in order to ensure that every person is,
counted, including in hard to count areas in our state. On June 11, 2019!, the Bureau announced the
initiation of the 2019 Census Test, during which approximately 480,000 households will be surveyed in
order to provide data to be used to refine operations and strategy ahead of the 2020 Census.
Additionally, half of the housing units in the 2019 Census Test sample, randomly selected, will be asked
to complete a form that includes a citizenship question, measuring the impact of whether this question
‘will impact self-response rates and the quality of responses. We are deeply concerned by the obstacles
the Bureau faces in conducting a full, fair, and accurate count of the U.S. population, and seek
reassurance that Bureau is taking the necessary steps to mitigate these challenges.
‘We are acutely aware of the risks New Jersey faces in being undercounted, and how a low self-response
rate could make it much harder for the Bureau to include all residents of our state in the final population
totals. Based on the 2010 Census, approximately 22% of New Jerseyans live in the hardest to count
neighborhoods in the country, or areas in which nearly one in four households did not mail back their
questionnaires.’ Additionally, New Jersey's population of historically undercounted communities,
including ethnic and racial minorities, is disproportionately higher than most other states, with
approximately 20% of New Jerseyans identifying as Hispanic; 15% as black; 10% Asian; and 1%
American Indian or Alaska Native.* Young children under the age of five in hard to count areas, widely
acknowledged to have been undercounted in the last census*, make up 28% of New Jersey’s total child
population under 5 years of age.° Further, low income and rural residents are even more at risk of being
undercounted as the Bureau presses forward with online self-response, despite 14.7% of New Jerseyans
reporting to have no access to home internet.”
As you are aware, an accurate Census is not only a constitutional responsibility of the federal
‘government, but its measurements determine the apportionment of seats in the U.S, House of
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draw legislative districts within the state’, The failure by the Bureau to address the issues facing an
accurate count in New Jersey could have devastating effects in protecting the rights of our constituents
and deprive them of critical federal funding for food security, school funding, first responders, and other
services determined by federal formulas.
In light of these issues, we ask that you provide the following information no later than July 12, 2019:
1. What proportion of the 2019 Census Test sample is comprised of New Jersey households or
housing units?
2. A Census Bureau study of the 2010 Census found a net undercount of 2.1% of African
Americans and 1.5% of Hispanic Americans, totally an estimated 1.5 million residents. An
internal memo written by statisticians at the Bureau estimates that the addition of a citizenship
question could exacerbate this undercount, leading to undercounting an additional 6,5 milli
residents!”, comprised mostly of Hispanic American and immigrant populations, Given New
Jersey's population of historically undercounted communities is disproportionately higher than
‘most other states, what are your current predictions on the response rate for the 2019 Census Test
with the addition of a citizenship question in New Jersey?
3. When did the Bureau make the decision to measure the effects of the citizenship question in the
2019 Census Test? What are the costs associated with this new addition?
4, Does the Bureau anticipate the need for additional resources to complete the 2019 Census Test
successfully?
a. In addition to our questions, we ask that the Census Bureau provide us with weekly
updates on the 2019 Census Test response rates and whether the citizenship question has
affected those rates.
5. What additional resources does Census anticipate will be necessary to meet expanded 2020
Census Nonresponse Follow-up (NRFU) activities created by a potential citizenship question?
We appreciate your attention to these pressing matters, and we look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Cory A. Booker
United States Senator
Robert Menenfiez
United States Senator
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