Posted in [News from Mike], [Recent Posts]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

February 11, 2010

Contact: Peter Clark, 512-463-0532 (o)

512-417-9262 (c), Peter.Clark@house.state.tx.us

 Villarreal Urges Texans to Participate in Census

Reiterates Call for Governor Perry to Promote Participation

Austin - Today Representative Mike Villarreal joined the Texas Latino Complete Count Committee in encouraging Texans to engage in the upcoming U.S. census.

"Our booming state population stands to bring home more of our tax dollars for education and other priorities if Texas residents simply answer 10 questions on census questionnaires," explained Rep. Villarreal. "All Texans need to know that the census is easy, important and safe."

Next month, the U.S. Census Bureau will mail questionnaires to households throughout the country. Between April and July, census workers will visit households that do not mail back their questionnaires.

Rep. Villarreal emphasized that the census is safe, especially if families keep a few things in mind. All census workers carry official government badges marked with just their name. Residents may ask them for another picture ID to confirm their identity. Private information they collect is never published or even shared with other government agencies. They will never ask to enter a respondent's home, request a Social Security number, or inquire about legal status.

Rep. Villarreal also reiterated his recommendation to Governor Rick Perry to direct state agencies to support census participation.  Rep. Villarreal, the Vice Chair of the House Redistricting Committee, wrote to Governor Perry in October 2009 urging him to form a state Complete Count Committee and work with state agencies to promote the census. The Governor has not responded to Rep. Villarreal's letter.

"Governor Perry has failed to seize this opportunity to bring more of our tax dollars back home to our public schools, job training programs, hospitals, transportation projects, and senior centers," noted Rep. Villarreal.

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