A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Urging all South Dakotans to participate in the 2020 United States Census.

WHEREAS, section 2 of Article I of the Constitution of the United States of America proclaims that representation shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective populations, which shall be enumerated on a term of every ten years; and

WHEREAS, South Dakota's leaders are dedicated to ensuring that every South Dakotan is counted once, only once, and in the right place; and

WHEREAS, the next enumeration will be April 1, 2020, and will be the first to rely heavily on online responses; and

WHEREAS, the primary and perpetual challenge facing the United States Census Bureau is the undercount of the American population; and

WHEREAS, that challenge is amplified in South Dakota, given the size of the state and the diversity of our communities; and

WHEREAS, a complete and accurate count of South Dakota's population is essential; and

WHEREAS, the data collected by the decennial census determines the number of United States congressional representatives for each state and is used to distribute 675 billion dollars in federal funds to state, local, and tribal governments; and

WHEREAS, the data is used in the redistricting of the state Legislature, county commissions, and city councils; and

WHEREAS, the decennial census is a massive undertaking that requires cross-sector collaboration and partnership in order to achieve a complete and accurate count; and

WHEREAS, the accuracy of the decennial census requires the critical cooperation and coordination between tribal, city, county, and state governments, community-based organizations, and many others; and

WHEREAS, the United States Census Bureau is facing increasing challenges with the 2020 Census, including a constrained fiscal environment, a rapidly changing use of technology, declining response rates, and an increasingly diverse and mobile population; and

WHEREAS, the South Dakota State Legislature, in partnership with other local governments, businesses, schools, and community organizations, is committed to robust outreach and communication, focusing on reaching every South Dakotan:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-Fifth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that the Legislature recognizes the constitutionality and importance of the 2020 United States Census and supports a complete, fair, and accurate count of all South Dakotans.

Adopted by the House of Representatives, February 20, 2020

Concurred in by the Senate, March 3, 2020

_____________________ _____________________ Steven G. Haugaard Mary Lou Goehring Speaker of the House Chief Clerk

_____________________ _____________________ Larry Rhoden Kay Johnson President of the Senate Secretary of the Senate