Don't forget to complete the 2020 Census to make sure every voice on Long Island counts. Our future depends on it; billions are at stake. Pledge to do so by the end of April!

Did you know that you have the power to impact the funding New York State receives from the federal government? To impact the representation New York has in Congress and the Electoral College?  
Every ten years since 1790, our nation’s population has been counted as required by the U.S. Constitution. 

The decennial census is a legal obligation that you have as a U.S. resident, regardless of your citizenship status. The federal government allocates $700 billion in funding across the nation that goes to schools, hospitals, roads, municipalities and more. In the 2010 decennial census, New York State had a response rate of 75.8% and received $73.3 billion in funding.

It has been estimated that if the response rate were raised to 85%, NY would receive an additional $9.1 billion and a response rate of 95% would result in $18.8 billion more. In fact, in the last two census counts, New York’s population has been undercounted.

The Census Bureau sent out the first round of mailings between March 12 and March 20. So, you should have received at least one mailing from the U.S. Census Bureau by now. Failure to respond to the mailings, either online or by mail or phone, forces the Census Bureau to send a census worker to your residence, which greatly increases the cost of administering the census. Failing to complete your census questionnaire affects all of us and our students.

Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Census Bureau has adjusted its schedule to send Census Bureau employees to conduct in-person interviews. Census Bureau workers will be going to households that have not responded between May 7 and August 14. The last day to self-respond is August 14. (Note: Due to the pandemic it is possible that this date will be adjusted; see the Census website below for all updated information.)

The FA supports the Complete Count movement. We understand how the census response rate affects funding, programs and services for the entire college community.  We are asking that you complete the census questionnaire for your household as soon as possible.

To complete the census questionnaire and learn more about the 2020 Census, visit 2020census.gov. Pledge to respond and to encourage others to complete their census questionnaire. Pledge to #shapeyourfuture.