The Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-California, 34th Congressional District
James T. Christy, Regional Director, Los Angeles Regional Office, U.S. Census Bureau

2010 Census: Making Sure Everyone Counts 
Please click here to read this op-ed in Spanish

Every 10 years, the United States is required by the U.S. Constitution to carry out a census – a concerted attempt to count everyone living in our country. When the first census was conducted more than 218 years ago, U.S. marshals on horseback counted 3.9 million people.  Since that time, the most recent 2000 census revealed our great nation has grown to more than 281 million people.

So why is it important to keep track of this and other important demographic information collected by the census?  The data are used to distribute congressional seats to states and to enable local, state and federal representatives to accurately identify the needs of our communities and nation and plan for our future.

The federal government alone allocates an estimated $300 billion every year in federal funds to state, local and tribal governments based on census data.  These dollars are crucial for community programs and services such as education, housing and community development, health care services for the elderly, job training, roads and highways, business development and more.  For example, the U.S. Department of Education uses census age data to allocate funding to states based on the number of school-aged children.  The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs uses age data to project the need for hospitals and nursing homes for aging veterans in our communities.

A precise count is critical to the future of Southern California.  In addition to federal spending allocations, the data are used to make many local decisions about the location of schools, fire stations, retail outlets, businesses, and other community services.  This is an important reason for everyone to fill out their census form immediately after it is mailed to their homes in March, 2010.  The forms are due back to the Census Bureau by Census Day, April 1, 2010.  After that, Census Bureau enumerators will begin visiting each household with outstanding forms to offer personal assistance.  The bureau’s exhaustive efforts, by mail and in person, are crucial to fulfilling its ultimate mission of completing a timely and accurate portrait of our nation and its people.

The 2010 Census is quick and simple.  Estimated to take only 10 minutes to complete, the census questionnaire is the shortest in history.  It will ask only seven questions: name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship and whether the householder owns or rents their home.  When answering these questions, it is very important to remember that, by federal law, all census information is kept strictly confidential.

The census also brings opportunities for employment.  To accomplish the massive task of taking a census, the U.S. Census Bureau will hire tens of thousands of workers throughout Southern California.  Over the next year, there will be positions available for workers with a wide range of skills – from seasoned managers serving as executives to people new to the workforce.  An essential part of getting a good census count is hiring local people to work in their neighborhoods.  We encourage people throughout Southern California to read more about Census Bureau job opportunities at www.2010CensusJobs.com and help spread the word about employment opportunities with the census available now and in future months.

It is never too early to highlight the importance of completing your census form.  Some of the hardest to count communities are the ones that stand to lose the most by not participating in the census.  Whether you can walk door to door to help others fill out the short form or simply take the 10 minutes to complete your own survey, every person in our country needs to take an active role in the 2010 Census.  For the future of our country and our communities, we all need to be counted.

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Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard’s multicultural 34th Congressional District in Los Angeles includes: Bell; Bellflower; Bell Gardens; Boyle Heights; Commerce; Cudahy; Downey; Downtown Los Angeles; Huntington Park; Little Tokyo; Maywood; South Park; Vernon; Walnut Park; and portions of Chinatown, East Los Angeles, Florence, Pico Union, and Westlake.

James T. Christy is the Regional Director of the Los Angeles Regional Census Center.

The Region consists of 19 counties in Southern California, which include Monterey County in the north to Imperial County in the south, and the state of Hawaii.
 

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