With the decennial census just around the corner, action was taken during the week to prepare for the task of counting Illinois’ citizens. On June 20, an Executive Order was signed dedicating $29 million for the 2020 Census and making other preparations for the count. This investment will primarily go to out-reach and education, providing proportional grants to communities, especially hard-to-count populations.

A new Census Office will also be established in the Illinois Department of Human Services to take lead on filing public reports online on a monthly basis to detail its budget, expenditures and distributions of funds to organizations throughout Illinois.

The 12-member bipartisan Census Advisory Panel will guide the Census Office’s work and advise the Census Office on drafting and ensuring a wide distribution of the Notice of Funding Opportunity, working with the Illinois Complete Count Commission and ensuring all communities receive communications during the 2020 Census. Senator Tracy will serve on the Complete Count Commission.