[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE ENSURING FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE CENSUS ACT OF 
                                  2026

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 2026

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Ensuring Full 
Participation in the Census Act of 2026, which would prohibit the U.S. 
Census Bureau (Bureau) from including questions on the decennial census 
about citizenship, nationality or immigration status.
  Prior to the 2020 census, the Department of Justice wrote to the 
Bureau requesting that it ``reinstate on the 2020 census questionnaire 
a question regarding citizenship.'' From 1970 to 2000, this question 
was sent to approximately 16 percent of the population in the decennial 
census through the so-called ``longform.'' However, the longform was 
dropped from the census and replaced with the current American 
Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is sent to approximately three million 
people annually, which allows the Bureau to get the necessary 
information on citizenship. Asking questions about citizenship status 
to every person in the decennial census has not been done in almost 70 
years because it would discourage people, largely minorities, who are 
already undercounted in the census, from participating in the census. 
The ACS was created to make the decennial census simpler for people to 
complete, which facilitates higher participation rates and preserves 
privacy.
  Fortunately, after a protracted legal and political process, the 
citizenship question was not included on the 2020 census. However, this 
bill is necessary to ensure it cannot be asked on a future decennial 
census. The representative sample provided by the ACS is more than 
sufficient to determine citizenship statistics in the U.S. All 
individuals must be counted in the decennial census to ensure an 
accurate allocation of federal funds and representation in Congress.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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