James Oberstar: “I rise in support of H.R. 5599, a bill to designate the Federal building located at 4600 Silver Hill Road in Suitland…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 5599, a bill to designate the Federal building located at 4600 Silver Hill Road in Suitland, Maryland, as the ``Thomas Jefferson Census Bureau Headquarters Building''. The United States census is a count of the Nation's population, conducted every 10 years. The results are used for various purposes, including allocation of congressional seats and impacting Government program funding for States and localities. The U.S. Census Bureau is responsible for conducting the census and serves ``as the leading source of quality data about the Nation's people and economy,'' according to its mission. The census is our Nation's longest continuous scientific project. In 1790, while Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson conducted the first official count of the Nation's population. Census Day was August 2, 1790. The national census has several colonial predecessors with eight of the original 13 colonies having conducted their own census. President Jefferson not only was one of our Founding Fathers and the third President of the United States, but he was also an early demographer. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we designate this Federal building as the ``Thomas Jefferson Census Bureau Headquarters Building''. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5599.”