WASHINGTON – Legislation introduced by Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), along with Reps. Chris Cannon (R-UT), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Tom Davis (R-VA), Charles Gonzalez (D-TX), Michael Honda (D-CA), Steny Hoyer (D-MD, Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), and Michael Turner (R-OH), to name the new state-of-the-art Census Bureau headquarters in Suitland Maryland the “Thomas Jefferson Census Bureau Headquarters Building” passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. 

Rep. Maloney, along with her other co-sponsors, introduced the legislation (H.R. 5599) to recognize Founding Father Thomas Jefferson’s role as supervisor of the first modern census in world history.  Thomas Jefferson was a leader among the Founders for establishing an accurate census. He realized that an accurate census was necessary to create a representative government that truly put power in the hands of the people.  This sentiment was groundbreaking at the time of the Constitution’s adoption and has been an important part of maintaining our democracy ever since.  The census has continued to reflect the growth of this nation and uphold the founding principle of fair representation.

“Thomas Jefferson knew that an accurate census was the key to fulfilling the Founding Fathers’ vision of a government with fair representation,” said Rep. Maloney.  “Naming the new census building after Thomas Jefferson would honor the memory of one of the founding fathers of the modern census and stand as a reminder of the importance of the census to the health of our democracy.”

“The career scientists, demographers, mathematicians, and professionals of the Census Bureau, as well as the hundreds of thousands of everyday Americans who will be employed in 2010 as temporary census takers, walk in the footsteps of many patriotic Americans before them, but none more instrumental and visionary as Thomas Jefferson,” Maloney said.  “I want to thank Chair Norton for her help in moving this bill forward.” 

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