Nevada needs all of us to participate in the census

By Jacky Rosen

Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020 | 2 a.m.

This has been an unprecedented year in our nation’s history due to the continued impacts of COVID-19. We’ve lost more than 200,000 fellow Americans, watched our local and state economies crumble, and isolated at home in order to protect our collective health. We’ve watched our state step up and show incredible resilience in the face of adversity.

I have never been more proud to call Nevada home.

Filling out the U.S. Census is more important than ever. The information gathered by the census builds an infrastructure of opportunity for not only our state, but the entire country. Our children, veterans and seniors desperately need us to stand up and be counted. Participating in the census count ensures that all Nevadans receive their fair share of resources.

Your participation in the 2020 Census matters because the federal government uses the data from your responses to determine the allocation of funds to Nevada: for our schools, our hospitals, our roads and other infrastructure vital to our prosperity and quality of life. It impacts funding for Meals on Wheels for seniors, and support for our brave veterans as they adjust to civilian life. That same data is also used to address other needs in our communities and fund vital social services, such as school lunches, child welfare programs and Medicaid, to name a few.

The importance of the 2020 Census cannot be overstated. Participating in the census is safe, secure, confidential and protected by law. It also does not ask questions about immigration or citizenship status. It is the responsibility of each one of us to ensure our communities are accurately counted, and that Nevada receives the funds it needs for a brighter and more prosperous future.

As the Sept. 30 deadline is fast approaching, I want to encourage every Nevadan to get counted and help Nevada get its fair share of federal resources.

Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., was elected to the Senate in 2018 after serving Nevada for two years in the House of Representatives.