ASSEMBLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 78

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 3, 2020

      The Assembly Women and Children Committee reports favorably Assembly Resolution No. 78.

      This resolution designates March 12 through 20 of 2020 “Get Out the Count Week” to encourage a full Census count of New Jersey’s population.

      The United States Constitution requires the conduct of a full count of the population every ten years.  The federal Census Bureau begins the decennial census count in January of 2020, and April 1st is designated as census day.  It is imperative for all households in New Jersey to fully participate in the population count by completing the census questionnaire.  The census population count is used to determine how many of the 435 congressional seats are allocated to each state.  Population data issued by the Census based on the count is used to redraw legislative and congressional districts in each state.  Furthermore, the census population data is used to distribute approximately $675 billion in federal funds to states and local communities throughout the country.  Census data also informs emergency response efforts and research in various areas of the sciences which advances knowledge and the ability to plan for the present and future.  Because of its importance for democratic representation, federal funding, emergency response efforts, and knowledge used for current and future planning, it is imperative for this State to encourage full participation of all residents in the 2020 Census.