Press Releases

WASHINGTON D.C. – On Thursday, Congresswoman Kendra Horn (OK-5) led introduction of a bipartisan resolution (H.Res. 872) recognizing the importance of ensuring an accurate count of members of Tribal Nations in the 2020 Census, and encouraging federal, state, and local governments to work with Tribal Nations as partners to encourage census participation. Households nationwide will begin receiving the 2020 Census by mail in mid-March and will have the opportunity to participate by mail, by phone, or online. In the 2010 Census, the Census Bureau estimates that American Indians and Alaska Natives were undercounted by approximately 4.9 percent, more than double the undercount rate of the next closest population group.

“American Indians and Alaska Natives have historically been undercounted in the Census,” said Congresswoman Horn. “As a result, Tribal Nations are shortchanged on federal funding for education programs, housing initiatives, workforce development programs, water and infrastructure projects, and more. The census ensures we make a strong investment in Oklahoma and provide resources to Tribal Nations that fulfill the federal Indian trust responsibility. Census results determine critical investments from plans for highways to funding for special education to support for our firefighters. Today’s bipartisan bill highlights the importance of making sure that the voices of Tribal Nations are heard and counted in the 2020 Census.”

“In order to protect the rights and resources of tribes, we must ensure Native American populations are fully accounted for in the 2020 Census,” said Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus Congressman Tom Cole (OK-4). “Doing so not only provides a more accurate picture of indigenous representation nationwide, but it also helps support Native programs with the needed funding, ensuring the federal government can meet and fulfill its promised trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this important legislation.”

“While an accurate census count helps ensure our community gets the funding that it needs, an inaccurate census count hits tribal communities twice as hard,” said Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus Congresswoman Deb Haaland (NM-1). “Tribal communities suffer from disproportionate rates of health disparities, violence, and poverty due to the lack of available funding- which is assigned based on information from the census. When we can adequately capture the American Indian and Alaskan Native population, these communities will have adequate resources to support basic services. Because federal funding and the census impact Indian Country more than any other group, it is critical for the federal government to get a complete census count and live up to its trust responsibility.”

Original cosponsors of H.Res. 872 include Co-Chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus Reps. Tom Cole (OK-4) and Deb Haaland (NM-1). Reps. Ruben Gallego (AZ-7), Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6), Sharice Davids (KS-3), Karen Bass (CA-37), and Ted Lieu (CA-33) are also original cosponsors.

Oklahoma is home to 39 federally recognized Tribal Nations. During the 2010 Census, members of Tribal Nations in Oklahoma faced many barriers to being counted, including shortcomings on the Census form that led to a severe undercount of Tribal Nations including the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

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