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I
116TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 6215
To amend title 13, United States Code, to prohibit certain deceptive practices
in relation to a census, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 12, 2020
Ms. ESHOO (for herself and Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Over-
sight and Reform
A BILL
To amend title 13, United States Code, to prohibit certain
deceptive practices in relation to a census, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Honest Census Com-
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munications Act’’.
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•HR 6215 IH
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON DECEPTIVE PRACTICES RELAT-
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ING TO CENSUS.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 13, United
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States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
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lowing:
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‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—DECEPTIVE PRACTICES
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‘‘§ 251. Prohibition on deceptive practices
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‘‘(a) No person, whether acting under color of law
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or otherwise, shall by any means, including by means of
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written, electronic or digital (including through a website,
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app, online forum, social media platform, streaming serv-
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ice, or any other means of communications using the inter-
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net or a similar communications network), or telephonic
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communications (including any phone call, text message,
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or any other communications sent, received, or trans-
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mitted using a wireless or wireline phone or a cellular or
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other phone network), communicate or cause to be com-
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municated information described in subsection (b), or
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produce information described in such subsection with the
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intent that such information be communicated, if such
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person—
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‘‘(1) knows such information to be materially
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false; and
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‘‘(2) has the intent to impede or prevent an-
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other person from participating in any census under
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•HR 6215 IH
this title, including the decennial census of popu-
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lation.
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‘‘(b) Information described in this subsection is any
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information regarding—
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‘‘(1) the time, place, or manner of holding any
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such census; or
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‘‘(2) the qualifications for, or restrictions on,
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participation in any such census.
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‘‘(c) Any individual who violates subsection (a) shall
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be fined an amount equal to the maximum penalty pro-
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vided under subsection (d), imprisoned for not more than
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5 years, or both.
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‘‘(d) A civil penalty of not more than $11,181 may
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be assessed against any individual who violates subsection
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(a).’’.
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections
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for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the fol-
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lowing:
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‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—DECEPTIVE PRACTICES
‘‘251. Prohibition on deceptive practices.’’.
Æ
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