Ted Poe: “I thank the gentleman for bringing up the American Community Survey and where it came from. That is irrelevant. The…”

“I thank the gentleman for bringing up the American Community Survey and where it came from. That is irrelevant. The issue is Americans should not be required to give personal information to the Federal Government. If they want to fill out this form, go for it. Make it voluntary. Fill it out and send the Federal Government all the information you can come up with about what takes place in your residence. But it should not be required. The Federal Government could get this information some other way. They could go to polling. The idea that they have got to go door to door to get this information when information is gathered all over the country by different businesses not going door to door--the government can do it other ways and not violate the right of privacy. I would ask that this amendment be adopted that basically requires the American Community Survey to be voluntary, and that the fine that is allowed by law not be allowed or not be collected under this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.”