[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H1173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RAISING AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE UPCOMING CENSUS

  (Ms. SCANLON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to a share story of the Ridley 
School District, which is leading the charge in our community to raise 
awareness of the importance of the upcoming Census.
  Under the leadership of Kelli Mullany, the director of pupil 
services, the Ridley School District has launched a districtwide effort 
to ensure a complete and fair count in the 2020 Census.
  Ten years ago, Pennsylvania undercounted over 25,000 children, 
resulting in a loss of nearly $44 million in funding for critical 
programs like healthcare, SNAP, school lunches, affordable housing, 
teacher training, and classroom technology. These programs were all 
impacted by the undercount.
  Since children are among those most likely to be undercounted, it is 
particularly important for schools like Ridley to promote a complete 
Census count. Community leaders like Kelli are working hard alongside 
local churches, preschools, shelters, housing authorities, public 
libraries and using social media to spread the word that we all count.
  The Census is the basis for how the Federal Government distributes 
billions of tax dollars, so we need a complete count. Our children and 
our communities can't afford another undercount this year. We all need 
to spread the word that the Census is easy, safe, and important.

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