Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade, State Senator Eddie Lucio, Mission Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas, McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez, La Joya Mayor Billy Leo, Granjeno Mayor Vicente Garza, state and local officials, representatives from the Census, community advocates and local media, today advocated for the 2010 Census and encouraged all Hidalgo County residents to make themselves count by completing and mailing their Census forms by April 1, 2010.

“This is a community-wide campaign to make Hidalgo County count,” said Cuellar. “It’s time to check your mailbox, fill out the form and mail it back. With only 10 questions, it takes just 10 minutes to complete and that can make a big difference for our community.”

The 2010 Census aims to count all residents living in the United States. Information collected from the Census helps determine population size and other unique regional factors like average median incomes. This information, in part, helps determine how over $400 billion in annual federal funding is distributed to state, local and tribal governments.

During the 2000 Census, the national participation rate was 72% and Texas had a statewide participation rate of 67%. According to the Census, Hidalgo County’s participation rate was significantly lower at 58%. 

“This means for the past decade, Hidalgo County has likely not received the necessary federal funding to support our pubic facilities,” said Cuellar. “Making yourself count with the 2010 Census will help make vital investments here at home.”

“Full participation in the 2010 Census is crucial for our state.   Without a complete count of all Texans in 2010, we risk losing representation and resources to meet our growing needs over the next decade,” said Andrade. “If Texans go uncounted, Texas will be short-changed.”

This past week, the U.S. Census Bureau started mailing census forms to more than 400 million addresses nationwide and asked residents to mail the forms back by April 1. Forms are bilingual with English and Spanish questions, and pre-paid postage on the forms make them free to mail back.

The U.S. Constitution requires a national Census once every 10 years and the 2010 Census is one of the shortest questionnaires in Census history. This year, the Census also aims to improve counts in historically undercounted areas, including communities along the Texas Southern Border, known as “hard to count” communities.

In January, Congressman Cuellar, member of the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives, toured one of these communities, known as the San Carlos Colonia just outside of Laredo, with U.S. Census Director Robert M. Groves.
For more information on the 2010 Census, please visit www.2010census.gov or visit www.cuellar.house.gov

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Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the U.S. House Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Government Oversight & Reform Committees in the 111th Congress. Accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development, and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip and member of the Blue Dog Coalition.