Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act

by the 111th Congress of the United States

111^TH UNITED STATES CONGRESS
2^ND SESSION

An Act
To protect the integrity of the constitutionally mandated United States census and prohibit deceptive mail practices that attempt to exploit the decennial census.

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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Section 1. Short Title.

This Act may be cited as the “Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act”.

Sec. 2. Requirements for mail bearing the term “census” on the envelope or outside cover or wrapper.

(a) Matter Soliciting Purchase of a Product or Service.—

Section 3001(h) of title 39, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), “; or which bears the term ‘census’ on the envelope or outside cover or wrapper” after “such matter by the Federal Government”;

(2) in paragraph (2), by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively;

(3) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively;

(4) by inserting “(1)” after “(h)”; and

(5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(2) In the case of matter bearing the term ‘census’ on the envelope or outside cover or wrapper, in addition to satisfying one of the exceptions contained in paragraphs (1)(A), (1)(B), or (1)(C), such envelope or outside cover or wrapper bears on its face an accurate return address including the name of the entity that sent such matter.”.

(b) Matter Soliciting Information or Contribution of Funds.—

Section 3001(i) of title 39, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), “; or which bears the term ‘census’ on the envelope or outside cover or wrapper” after “such matter by the Federal Government”;

(2) in paragraph (2), by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively;

(3) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively;

(4) by inserting “(1)” after “(i)”; and

(5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(2) In the case of matter bearing the term ‘census’ on the envelope or outside cover or wrapper, in addition to satisfying one of the exceptions contained in paragraphs (1)(A), (1)(B), or (1)(C), such envelope or outside cover or wrapper bears on its face an accurate return address including the name of the entity that sent such matter.”.

Approved April 7, 2010.

Legislative History

• (H.R. 4621)
  • CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 156 (2010):
    • Mar. 10, considered and passed House.
    • Mar. 26, considered and passed Senate.