WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after President Trump announced he is dropping efforts to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement:

“President Trump abandoned this failed effort because it was a dead end.  But I’m concerned the damage has been done.  He’s poisoned the well to the point where many people may now be scared to participate in the Census.  It is our job to make sure people have the facts and know the importance of being counted.  My goal is a full and accurate count in accordance with the Constitution.  The Census has a huge, lasting impact on our communities – influencing funding for everything from schools, to roads, to representation in Congress.  So we want to be sure it’s done fairly, correctly, and accurately.”

Earlier this week, Senator Reed sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross urging the Administration to “immediately cease consideration of an executive order or any other means of adding a citizenship question.”