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 Release Information CB09-CR.03pr **Contact:**  Shelly Lowe
Public Information Office (301) 763-3030 (phone) (301) 763-3762 (fax) (301) 457-1037 (TDD)PIO@census.gov
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2009 Census Workers to Verify Addresses in Puerto Rico First Major 2010 Census Operation in Puerto Rico to Employ Thousands of Workers The  Census Bureau will launch a massive operation beginning April 6 to verify and  update around 1.5 million addresses as it prepares to conduct the 2010 Census  of Puerto Rico. Island-wide,  thousands of census workers will participate in the address canvassing  operation, a critically important first step in assuring that every housing  unit receives a census questionnaire in March 2010. All information is kept  confidential. The countdown to the 2010 Census of Puerto Rico is officially one  year out on April 1. "A  complete and accurate address list is the cornerstone of a successful census,"  said Tom Mesenbourg, acting director of the U.S. Census Bureau. "Building on  the achievements of the 2000 Census, we have been testing and preparing for the  2010 count all decade, and we're ready to fulfill our mandate to count everyone  living in Puerto Rico." The  first publicly visible activity of the 2010 Census of Puerto Rico is ahead of  schedule. Address canvassing kicks off a week earlier than originally planned  and should conclude by mid-July. The operation will use new hand-held computers  equipped with GPS to increase geographic accuracy. The ability to capture GPS  coordinates for most of Puerto Rico's housing units will greatly reduce the  number of geographic coding errors caused by using paper maps in previous  counts. "The  primary goal of the census is to count everyone once, only once, and in the  right place," Mesenbourg said. "Because the census is used for the distribution  of millions of dollars every year to Puerto Rico and municipio governments,  it's essential to get this first step right."      Over  the last several years, the Census Bureau has been actively working on updating  its geographic databases and master address files. From implementing the Local  Update of Census Address program where municipio governments participated in a  review of the Census Bureau's address list for their municipio, to increasing  the precision of the GPS mapping, many advances have been made to compile the  most comprehensive listing of addresses in the nation. The  address canvassing operation will be conducted across Puerto Rico, beginning on  April 6. In most cases, census workers will knock on doors to verify addresses  and inquire about additional living quarters on the premises. This is the first  census to include group quarters (such as dormitories, group homes, prisons and  homeless shelters) in the address canvassing operation, which should improve  both the accuracy and coverage of the final count. There  will be one final opportunity to add new home construction in early 2010 prior  to the mailing of the census questionnaires. Census  workers can be identified by the official Census Bureau badge they carry.  During the address canvassing operation, census workers may ask to verify a  housing structure's address and whether there are additional living quarters on  the property. 2010  Census workers will never ask for bank or social security information. All  census information collected, including addresses, is confidential and protected  by law. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with the  FBI, the IRS, CIA, Welfare, Immigration, or any other government agency. No  court of law or law enforcement agency can find out respondents' answers. All  Census Bureau employees -- including temporary employees -- take an oath for life  to keep census information confidential. Any violation of that oath is  punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and five years in prison.
 
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