TO THE HONORABLE DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

WHEREAS, The federal decennial census is mandated under Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution and serves as a foundational element of our representative form of democracy; and

WHEREAS, The federal census also is a tool for providing complete and accurate statistical information for many critical public and private functions and services; and

WHEREAS, Voters across the country, including the state of Washington, count on a complete and accurate census to ensure fair representation and districting at every level of government; and

WHEREAS, Washington receives federal dollars for critical services based on our population and has seen explosive growth since 2010, which must be accurately and equitably distributed based on census data; and

WHEREAS, Washington state and local government agencies rely on census data for planning and delivering education, economic development and employment, health, and transportation services; and

WHEREAS, Washington state businesses depend on census data for strategic planning and investment decisions, and civic organizations rely on census data to identify community needs, request and fund programs, monitor trends, and assess program effectiveness; and

WHEREAS, The federal census bureau is currently underfunded and in jeopardy of not being fully prepared to administer the upcoming census in 2020, which could lead to an incomplete or inaccurate census; and

WHEREAS, Wilbur Ross, the secretary of the United States Department of Commerce has reported to Congress on the need for funding and has requested increased funding to the census bureau to complete preparations for the 2020 census; and

WHEREAS, John Thomson, director of the United States census bureau resigned from office in 2017 and a permanent replacement has not yet been appointed;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully urge that the Congress of the United States immediately fulfill Secretary Ross's request to provide adequate funding for the 2020 census and that a new director of the census bureau be nominated and appointed.

BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Donald Trump, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each member of Congress, and the Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce.

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