Reject S. 2205: Protect Census Integrity and Fair Representation For All

Today I take pen in hand to write and urge you to vote against S. 2205, the Equal Representation Act. This bill is not only deceptively named, but also poses a significant threat to the integrity of the 2030 Census and violates constitutional mandates for fair representation. As an alarmed constituent, I’m deeply opposed to this ‘erasing’ or people from our census concerned about the far-reaching consequences this legislation could have on our democracy and the equitable distribution of federal resources. This proposed addition of a citizenship question to the census questionnaire has been tried before, and defeated. Pushing this change again would likely discourage participation, especially among immigrant households, leading to a severe undercount of our population. The ramifications of such an undercount would be felt across all communities, as it would badly distort the allocation of federal funding for essential services that benefit everyone, regardless of citizenship status. The bill's attempt to exclude noncitizens from population totals used for reapportionment directly conflicts with the Fourteenth Amendment's clear requirement to count ALL residents. This unconstitutional provision would not only skew political representation but also undermine the fundamental principle of equal representation that our democracy is built upon. Over 100 civil rights organizations have voiced strong opposition to this bill. Their expertise in this matter must not be ignored. These respected groups warn that S. 2205 would suppress census participation, leading to inaccurate population counts that would harm all communities by affecting both resource allocation and political representation. Tell your colleagues to vote NO, and stop this bill in committee or on the floor. I implore you to stand up for the constitutional rights of all residents and the integrity of our democratic institutions by rejecting the Equal Representation Act. Thank you.