[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 96 (Thursday, June 24, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H4783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SAFETY OF CENSUS WORKERS

  (Mr. MORAN of Virginia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, we should all be greatly 
concerned for the safety of our U.S. census workers. According to the 
Census Bureau, there have been 379 incidents involving threats and 
abuse towards census employees so far this year. That's more than 
double the violence that occurred during the last census in 2000, and 
there are still 3 weeks remaining in this year's census taking.
  The reported incidents have consisted of robberies, assault, violent 
threats, being held against their will, and carjacking. They are doing 
very important work and getting paid very little for it. They should 
not be subjected to this kind of abusive treatment. Ironically, it is 
the work of census takers that will ensure that each American receives 
their fair share of Federal resources. They are performing a very 
important public service.
  I'm afraid that this abuse may be directly tied to some of the 
antigovernment rhetoric that is coming from some people in this body 
and the Republican noise machine; in other words, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn 
Beck, and countless other so-called ``shock jocks.'' Rather than 
disparaging Federal employees, this body should be applauding the 
excellent and courageous work that they are performing.

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