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Dear FirstName,

I hope you’re staying well and healthy. As you may have heard, the Supreme Court ruled earlier this week that the Census can end early, which means El Pasoans have less than 24 hours left to respond to the Census and ensure our community is counted.

The Supreme Court’s decision to enable the Trump administration’s efforts to weaponize the 2020 Census is deeply disappointing and will inflict long-lasting harm on El Paso and vulnerable communities across the country.

Amid a global pandemic and economic crisis, ending the Census early could result in an unfair and inaccurate count that violates El Pasoans’ constitutional right to political representation and denies them critical federal funding for programs such as education services, food programs, and housing grants. 

A Congressional report found that if there is just a 1% undercount in the Census, El Pasoans could lose:

• $8.1 million in federal funding for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and foster care assistance programs.
• $535,000 in federal funding for schools that have a high proportion of low-income students, or the equivalent of all the textbooks that 2,142 students would need in a school year.
• $205,000 in federal funding for job training centers and career counseling.

As I continue my fight in Congress to save the Census and extend reporting deadlines, I urge you to respond to the 2020 Census right now by going online to 2020census.gov, calling 844-330-2020, or mailing back the paper questionnaire.

• Online self-response at 2020census.gov will be available through October 15, 2020, until 11:59 pm Hawaii Standard Time (HST), (3:59 am Mountain Daylight Time on October 16, 2020).
• Phone response will be available for its regularly scheduled time on October 15, 2020. Click here for the schedule and a list of numbers.
• Paper responses must be postmarked by October 15, 2020.

If you already filled out your Census, please check with family and friends to make sure they have filled theirs out, too. It is much more difficult to gather information during this pandemic, so it’s up to each one of us to ensure we get it done for our community. Responses are due TODAY, October 15. 2020, so act now!

Testing and Additional Resources

The fight against COVID-19 is far from over, and this is not the time to let our guard down. We have to do our part and stay home unless we absolutely need to leave for an essential activity. We all have a role to play in slowing the spread and protecting ourselves, our family, and our community.

New information about COVID-19 is coming out daily, please visit my resource page on my website for the latest updates, recommendations from the CDC, and a Frequently Asked Questions section to know the latest. Additionally, visit the sites below to stay up to date.

The CDC provides updates on the virus and safety information for the public and healthcare professionals, as well as Frequently Asked Questions available here.

The City of El Paso has a hotline for residents to call for more information regarding COVID-19. The number is 915-21-COVID, or 915-212-6843.

If you need to get tested because you believe you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, please get tested. The City of El Paso also offers mobile testing centers throughout the city that are now open and are free of charge for any symptomatic or asymptomatic person. So, whether you are exhibiting symptoms or not, you can get tested! For more information on locations and operating hours, please click here.

The Texas Department of State Health Services provides updates on the disease's spread within the state.

Sincerely,

Veronica Escobar
Member of Congress