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WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) applauds the recommendation by the Office of the Chief Statistician for the The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to add a self-identification response category for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA), separate and distinct from the “White” category.

“Excluding the MENA category from federal data collection has serious consequences for members of these communities, who deserve to be adequately included in and represented by our federal government,” said Dingell. “I’m optimistic about this recommendation by the Chief Statistician and encourage everyone to submit their comments and make their voice heard about how this change will impact them. I look forward to this revision being finalized.” 

Dingell has long advocated for MENA representation and inclusion across the federal government. In her first term in Congress, Dingell sent a letter to the Census Bureau calling for the inclusion of a MENA category in the 2020 census. Last year, Dingell introduced the Health Equity and Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Community Inclusion Act to help ensure the experiences and needs of the MENA community are reflected in the federal government’s focus on public health. And last December, Dingell and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging the department to collect and report data on individuals who self-identify as MENA to identify and address health disparities.

Rep. Dingell encourages the public to provide personal thoughts and reactions on these proposals, including how you believe they may affect different communities, by April 12, 2023. You can visit the Working Group’s new website, read the full Federal Register Notice, provide feedback on the Working Group’s initial proposals, and participate in one of the Working Group’s virtual, bi-monthly listening sessions or upcoming public virtual town halls to share your individual perspectives directly.