State rep cites wide-ranging impact of census count
NORRISTOWN » By horseback and on foot, those original census takers were determined to get an accurate count of citizens for the first census back in 1790 despite their hardships.
With smartphones and computers, today’s workers have a much easier job of it, but getting residents to cooperate is just as vital.
“My office just had a census hiring event in the borough of Norristown the other day ,and it went every well,” said State Rep. Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery. “We’re
still hiring. The jobs pay very well, $27 an hour. Taking part in the census, regardless of your citizenship, is secure and it’s our patriotic duty to respond. It’s so important that everyone do their part.”
Bradford, who represents Norristown, East Norriton, Plymouth Meeting and Worcester, said a result of the last census in 2010 came as a bit of a surprise.
“Pennsylvania lost a congressional district. I can’t say it was a complete surprise because Pennsylvania population increases haven’t been keeping pace with some of the Sunbelt states, but that’s an example of how important it is that everyone in Pennsylvania is making sure that they’re counted. Pennsylvania has 18 congressional representatives. We used to have 19 but lost a seat after the 2010 census. Pennsylvania has now appropriated $4.5 million to make sure that we do as aggressive an outreach effort as possible to make sure that communities like Norristown feel comfortable in responding and respond in record numbers.”
Bradford noted the effect that rental units have on the true census numbers.
“Rental units shouldn’t affect the census at all,” he said. “Unfortunately, when people move in and out, it’s hard sometimes to get an actual count. But whether you’re a renter, a permanent resident, regardless of citizenship status, everybody should feel comfortable and secure responding to the census.”
The results will impact the community in many ways, Bradford said.
“There’s a very real concern, especially with communities like Norristown, that if communities are under-counted, it will impact federal aid to communities and it affects all Pennsylvanians because we’ll lose representation in Congress. So it behooves all of us to make sure that we’re counted.”
The census accounts for every person living in the U.S. once, based on where they are living April 1.
According to www. pa.gov/census/yourresponse-matters, census data are used to decide how $675 billion in federal public funding is spent every year. Pennsylvania gets $26.8 billion annually from the 16 largest federally funded programs, which is about $2,000 per Pennsylvanian each year.
These numbers may change depending on our 2020 census count.
Federal funding supports many programs and services for Pennsylvanians, including health care, food security, education, transportation, housing and community development, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments, Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program, Public Housing Capital Fund, Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities, Rural Rental Assistance Payments, Business and Industry Loans, Cooperative Extension Services
Specific programs include Medicare (Part B), School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Highway Planning & Construction, Federal Transit Formula Grants and Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants.
“The information is effective as of April 1, 2020, but the reality is we want people to respond as early as possible,” Bradfrod said. “It’s very time-consuming to get the ‘stragglers’ on the back end, so we want everyone to respond early.”
To apply for a census job, visit https://2020census. gov/en/jobs