Gov. Perry Names Secretary Hope Andrade Texas Census Ambassador

Gov. Rick Perry today named Secretary of State Hope Andrade the Texas Census Ambassador to promote participation by Texans in the 2010 Census. Forms for the 2010 Census will be delivered to residents this month.

"It is in the best interest of our state for every Texan to be counted in the census, in terms of representation and our tax dollars flowing back to Texas," Gov. Perry said. "I am thankful to Secretary Andrade for her dedication to ensuring all Texans understand the importance and value of participating in the 2010 Census."

Secretary Andrade will join U.S. Census officials and other partners in Austin on Friday, March 12, to encourage all individuals residing in Texas to participate in the census. She will also speak at events across the state in advance of the April 1 deadline.

"Completing the short census form only takes a few minutes, but those few minutes can have a significant impact on our state for many years to come," Secretary Andrade said. "Our focus is on getting a complete and accurate count of Texas residents by helping to spread the word across the state."

As required by the U.S. Constitution, the Census is conducted every 10 years to determine population totals and demographic information. The data collected also helps determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives, and helps states secure federal funding for services, including hospitals, job training centers, public works projects and emergency services.

For more information on the 2010 Census, please visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/ or http://www.sos.state.tx.us.