Rep. Blanco Urges Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton to Stand Up For Texas In 2020 Census Questionnaire Decision

(Press Release) Austin, Texas – Late yesterday, the Trump Administration through the Commerce Department, announced its decision to include a question about citizenship on the 2020 U.S. Census. The inclusion of the citizenship question is expected to adversely impact states with high immigrant populations, such as Texas. It is expected that a citizenship question will lead to a substantial undercount in Texas’ population, especially along the Texas-Mexico border. Trump’s census citizenship question threatens Texas’ political representation, apportionment, and federal funding for critical infrastructure and services. A citizenship question has not been included in a U.S. Census for almost 70 years. In response to the Commerce Department’s announcement, Texas State Representative César Blanco is urging Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton to sue the Trump Administration to block the inclusion of the citizenship question.

Representative César J. Blanco issued the following statement:

“Texas stands to gain from a full and accurate count of ALL Texas residents. The 2020 Census is also vitally important to the future of our local communities. The data gathered will determine funding for vital local services, such as education, health care and transportation, and it will also affect representation at all levels of government.

“Today, I am calling on Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton to stand up for Texas and sue the Trump Administration to block the inclusion of the citizenship question. Texas is a fast growing state with growing needs and is also poised to gain up to 3 new congressional seats. Any decision by the Trump Administration that dilutes Texas’ political representation and reduces future federal funding hurts our communities, businesses, and working families.

“This isn’t about politics, it’s about Texas receiving its fair share of resources and representation. It is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue– it’s a Texas issue.”