Albany, New York – Assemblyman David I. Weprin joined an amicus brief along with 190 bipartisan elected officials and municipalities across the country challenging the addition of the citizenship question to the 2020 census.

The brief supports the plaintiffs in Department of Commerce v. New York, currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case will determine whether a citizenship question will appear on the 2020 Census. Weprin and other advocates are certain that the citizenship question will dramatically impair the accuracy of the census count by discouraging turnout by affected groups.

The Census, which occurs every 10 years, determines the allocation of federal funding and the number of representatives each state receives in the House of Representatives. New York’s share of the nearly $900 billion in federal funding is at stake which funds programs that support public education, nutrition, healthcare, victims of crime, community development, rehabilitation centers, unemployment insurance, and much more. Without proper funding millions of vulnerable New Yorkers will be left without vital programs. Additionally, New York may lose up to 2 seats in the House after reapportionment.

“I am proud to join the coalition of elected officials and municipalities opposing the discriminatory 2020 Census citizenship question. In my own district, nearly 18% of residents are non-citizens but if everyone is not completely counted everyone in my district will be short changed,” said Assemblyman David I. Weprin. “New York State needs an accurate Census count for fair federal funding and representation. I urge the Supreme Court to affirm the decision of the lower courts rejecting the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census.”