[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 6 (Friday, January 10, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0915
       RURAL AMERICA NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN UPCOMING CENSUS

  (Mr. COMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 2020 
Census and to emphasize the importance of ensuring that rural America 
is accounted for.
  Our once-a-decade counting of all Americans is important for numerous 
reasons. Most importantly, census data provides us with a roadmap for 
allocating hundreds of billions of dollars annually in government 
services. These include investments in things like education, roads, 
and bridges, and other areas of importance to rural districts like 
mine.
  I appreciate the U.S. Census Bureau's efforts to streamline 
government duties by including an online response option this year. 
However, I am very concerned that rural areas like Kentucky's First 
Congressional District could get left behind.
  Unfortunately, nearly 30 percent of my district lacks internet access 
or lacks access to reliable connection. This high number is 
unacceptable and could have dire consequences, including ensuring that 
people I serve are accounted for.
  This startling lack of internet access in rural America is a call to 
action for Congress to step up to the plate. My office has worked 
tirelessly to address this issue, including funding critical programs 
in the 2018 farm bill. But we must do more to expand internet 
connectivity so that our voices will not be undercounted and left 
behind.
  Without action, small towns across Kentucky and our entire Nation 
risk being left behind in the upcoming census, an outcome that should 
be unacceptable to every member of this body.

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