HR0672 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0672 LRB101 17797 ECR 67226 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, By law, the U.S. government is required to count the number of people living in the United States every ten years; engaging the participation of all individuals in order to get an accurate count is of crucial importance because census numbers impact all individuals and all organizations in the United States in many ways; and

WHEREAS, The federal government uses census numbers to allocate more than $675 billion in federal funds annually for community programs and services, such as education programs, housing and community development, health care services, grants, and a variety of special projects; and

WHEREAS, The census also plays a vital role in our nation's system of government by determining how many representatives will be sent to Congress from each state to convey our concerns and work towards a better future; the information is then used by lawmakers to prioritize allocations to the communities schools, hospitals, and infrastructures in the most need; and

WHEREAS, State, local, and tribal governments use census information for planning and allocating funds for new schools, libraries, public transportation systems, new roads and bridges, and for help in determining zoning locations for police, fire, and other first responders; and

WHEREAS, Communities and small businesses use census information to develop social service programs, community action, and outreach projects; census numbers help determine where to locate factories, shopping centers, movie theaters, banks, and offices, which all have the potential to lead to new jobs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the importance of prioritizing census participation and urge state agencies to post clear and easy to access information regarding census procedures in English and Spanish so that all individuals have an equal opportunity for civic duty engagement; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor's Office and all members of the Illinois General Assembly.