NYS SENATOR BIAGGI CALLS ON CONGRESS TO OFFICIALLY EXTEND THE CENSUS REPORTING DEADLINE TO PROTECT ACCURACY OF THE COUNT
January 25, 2021
BRONX, NY – Today State Senator Alessandra Biaggi issued a statement calling on the United States Congress to officially extend the 2020 Census reporting deadlines, to ensure that the Census Bureau can complete a full and an accurate count of the Bronx and Westchester. The Senator is also calling on President Joe Biden to appoint a permanent and qualified Census Bureau Director, following the resignation of Dr. Steven Dillingham.
Amid the global pandemic and former President Donald Trump’s tampering, the United States Census Bureau was unable to deliver the population counts for congressional apportionment by the December 31st, 2020 deadline, and is now in violation of statute. Because of this delay, it is likely that the Bureau will also miss the next deadline of April 1st, 2021 for reporting redistricting data to the states.
State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx/Westchester) issued the following statement:
“The pandemic, in addition to former President Trump’s callous campaign to jeopardize the Census, has compromised the processing of the Census data – threatening the quality and accuracy of the count. This is a major concern for all New Yorkers, but especially in the Bronx where our communities have been historically undercounted and need all the federal resources we can get to recover from the devastation wrought by COVID-19.
To ensure that the Bronx and Westchester receive our fair share of federal funding and political representation, I call on our congressional representatives to act to officially extend the statutory reporting deadlines for the delivery of the Census apportionment counts and redistricting data. Additionally, it is critical that President Biden quickly appoint a permanent and qualified Census Director to ensure that the Bureau receives the proper support and leadership in its efforts. Taking these two actions will restore certainty to the process, and provide the Census Bureau with the necessary time to do its due diligence in producing the most accurate and fair data possible.”
###