No doubt, mostly everyone has heard of the Library of Congress, the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States and largest library in the world with millions of items in its vast collection. But what about the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)? NARA is a special library and brands itself as “the nation’s recordkeeper.” While the LOC’s collection consists primarily of books, recordings, photographs, and manuscripts, NARA’s collection captures documents and materials that were created during the conduct of government business and activities.
Read moreFriday Fun with Facts and Figures
Even those that do not consider themselves to be “math people” can get excited by statistics and data. They check the standings to see where their favorite sports team falls in the hierarchy of those eligible for the playoffs or scour the box scores to see how many points their fantasy team players garnered for them. When it comes to facts and figures, though, the United States Census Bureau reigns supreme. The Bureau’s raison d’etre is to gather information and synthesize that information into data points that provide a glimpse of who we, as Americans, are.
Despite its early temporary iteration in the 1790s, authorized under various Census Acts and Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution, the current Census Bureau as a permanent office did not take shape until 1902 with An Act to Provide for a Permanent Census Office. The Census Office originally operated within and under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, but oversight was transferred to the Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903. The Bureau continues today under the Department of Commerce.
The stated mission of the Bureau is “to serve as the nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy.” To accomplish its mission, the Bureau conducts not only a decennial census but also other surveys, such as the American Community Survey, the Census of Governments, and the Economic Census. The data gathered from these surveys are important tools in determining how to distribute Congressional seats; planning where community services are needed; providing necessary funding to local, state, and tribal governments; and providing Age Search information for genealogical purposes.
Census.gov, the Bureau’s website, is the hub for all sorts of facts and figures compiled by the Bureau as the result of all of its surveys and censuses. Visitors to the site have access to data, news, and updates about various demographic-related topics, such as age and sex, education, families and living arrangements, income and poverty, and race. There is an interesting feature, America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers, that more fully discusses and explains some of the data collected. A recent article talked about the declining marriage and divorce rate in the United States and how the numbers in individual states compared to the national figure. New to the website is a COVID-19 Interactive Data Hub and Other Resources where users can find community resilience estimates, business formation statistics, demographic and economic analyses, and COVID-19 impact planning reports for each individual state and its counties. On the landing page, there is also a USA and World Population Clock that keeps track of population changes based on short-term projections. Under the About Us tab, there is a link to History. There, users can find information about the history of the agency as well as information about its programs. Of particular interest is the Through the Decades tab where users are treated to pop culture and fast facts for each decade in which the census was taken as well as an index of questions asked in that census period.
Amid the pandemic, it’s easy to forget that 2020 was a census year. If you are interested in checking out data and statistics about our nation, visit Census.gov. Through its data-collection efforts, the Bureau helps to put a face on those statistics and shows that our country is so much more than just numbers.
Acknowledging Native Land
Image Credit: Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay
As members of the local legal community, we are committed to recognizing and addressing the systemic injustices that exist for many of those we serve. We are dedicated, as always -- even during the pandemic -- to providing open and equal access to justice for all. Helping remove the structural barriers that prevent many individuals from receiving the services and information they need to pursue personal justice is part of that mission.
One of the most fundamental obstructions to justice and to a fuller appreciation of and respect for others – particularly Native people -- is a lack of recognition for the very land on which we walk. Native American Heritage Month, which comes to a close at the end November, is the perfect time to start a new journey of understanding, to embrace equity, grow in gratitude for the land we all occupy, and honor the Indigenous people who steward it.
Previously on this blog, we have applauded the efforts of organizations like the American Bar Association, whose Implicit Bias Initiative is designed, in part, to educate and inform the legal community about cultural and structural barriers that impact the delivery of legal services for many people, especially those at the margins. Today, in a continuation of such a laudable effort, we offer the following additional resources. The organizations linked below explore how we can all work toward achieving an affirming, inclusive, and equitable social ecosystem for all people, and, in particular, those who are native to the North and South American continents.
We conclude the list with a link to a tool that will help you identify, learn about, and acknowledge the Native people whose land we occupy. For example, the land on which the Harris County Law Library sits is home to a number of Indigenous nations, including the Karankawa, Coahuiltecan, Atakapa-Ishak, and the Sana. Enter your address to find the names of the Indigenous people who once tended the land you now occupy. Learning about the culture, language, and heritage of these people is a recommended first step to dismantling systemic injustice against Indigenous communities. We hope the resources provided here help in that effort.
Center for Racial Justice in Education – See: A Racial Justice Guide to Thanksgiving
U.S. Department of Arts and Culture: Honoring Native Land – A Guide and Call to Acknowledgment
Amnesty International – Activism Skills: Land and Territory Acknowledgment
Native Land – Mapping tool for identifying Indigenous lands
To Grandmother's House? Know Before You Go
Image Credit: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/connection-covid-19-coronavirus-4884862/
The CDC urges Americans that travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. If your holiday plans still include travel or you are considering travel, it is important to understand that depending on your destination COVID-19 restrictions may vary, such as requiring people to wear masks and requiring those who recently traveled to stay home for up to 14 days.
On May 21, 2020, Gov. Abbott issued Executive Order GA-24 terminating Texas air travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are travelling outside of Texas, here are some resources to help guide your decision and plans within and outside of the United States.
Domestic Travel
The CDC recommends using Travel Planner before traveling. The site offers links to state, local, tribal, and territorial government restrictions. You simply enter a city, zip code, or address to learn more about COVID-19 travel restrictions, guidance, and resources in your destination.
Additionally, CNN Travel has also created a list of travel restrictions state-by-state which they update periodically due to the ever-changing situation across the country.
Before making your final travel plans, it would be helpful to also know if cases are high or increasing in your destination. The CDC’s COVID Data Tracker provides the latest number of cases by state.
Finally, you may wish to consult this map, the COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool created at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Enter your geographic destination, narrowing your selection to the county you intend to visit. Use the slider to specify your event size, from 10-5,000 people. The tool will then assess the likelihood of at least one person getting the virus.
One additional metric for gauging your risk of infection is provided here on this chart from the Texas Medical Association COVID-19 Resource Center. It ranks your chances, on a scale of 1 to 10, of getting COVID-19 while participating in a number of holiday festivities. The chart is available in English and Spanish and in grayscale for easy printing.
International Travel
The U.S. Department of State maintains a COVID-19 Traveler Information page that has current information on international travel restrictions, advisories, and any required self-quarantine periods. The State Department also offers a U.S. Embassy COVID page with country specific information, such as entry and exit requirements, self-quarantine policies, and current restrictions on movement within the country (e.g., curfews, intercity travel).
For individuals looking to travel to the United States, the CDC has published the following: Travelers Prohibited from Entry to the United States. With specific exceptions, foreign nationals who have been in any of the following countries during the past 14 days may not enter the United States:
European Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City)
United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
In a time when we are starved for human connection, we are also faced with alarming numbers. In the United States, there were 162,320 newly reported COVID-19 cases on Nov 18, 2020 alone. Recognizing that we all want to celebrate with friends and family in some way and hopefully in a safe way, the CDC offers a Holiday Celebrations page. One tip: Limit the number of attendees as much as possible to allow people from different households to remain at least 6 feet apart (2 arm lengths) at all times. Although the CDC cannot offer a magic number for attendees, in these times, less is definitely more.
Mask Requirements While Flying
The CDC issued a “strong recommendation” that all passengers and employees on airplanes, trains, subways, buses, taxis and ride-share vehicles should wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Surprising to some, there is no formal mask mandate from the U.S. government for travel on airplanes or at airports. The U.S. Department of Transportation previously declined a petition by the largest airline passenger non-profit organization consumer group Flyers Rights to implement one. However, airlines have stepped in and all major U.S. airlines are requiring passengers to wear face masks. As some of these restrictions become tighter, it is advisable to check with your airline for specific instructions and for more information and recommendations on travel visit the CDC’s Travel page.
From all of us here at the Harris County Law Library, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Record Number of Native Americans Elected to Congress
Democrat Sharice Davids, a member of Wisconsin’s Ho-Chunk Nation tribe, defeated four-term Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder in Kansas on Tuesday.
Democrat Deb Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe running in New Mexico’s First Congressional District, also won her election.
Leading up to the 2020 presidential election, pollsters and demographers talked about the potential impact of the Native American vote on the outcome of the race, especially in key battleground states like Arizona and Nevada, where, three days after the election, votes are still being counted. Also discussed in the lead-up to the election was the difficulty that many Native Americans face in registering to vote and in casting their ballots. Decades of denying this population access to the polls via the systematic violation of their right to vote has led, historically, to lower voter turn-out among Native Americans. (The Library of Congress traces Native Americans’ struggle for voting rights, and the ABA documents how the Native American vote continues to be suppressed.)
Although many still don’t feel entirely welcome at the polls, and efforts to increase Native American voter participation are ongoing, the number of Native Americans elected to national political office is growing. In Tuesday’s election, more Native Americans were elected to Congress than ever before. Six candidates won their races, giving the House a record number of Native members, including Democrats in Kansas (Sharice Davids) and New Mexico (Deb Haaland), who became the first Native American women elected to Congress. This historic achievement, decades in the making, may expand paths of access to the polls for a population of voters long denied their fundamental American right, and inspire Native Americans with political aspirations to seek office in future elections.
In November, as we celebrate Native American Heritage Month at the Harris County Law Library, Ex Libris Juris will highlight the achievements and contributions of Native Americans throughout history. Visit often in the coming weeks to learn more!