Attachment K(a) Portfolio Information - Confidentiality Brochure

A Message from the
Census Bureau Director

For More Information
Call our national Customer Services Center at
1-800-923-8282 or one of our Regional Offices
listed below.

Without you, the country doesn’t have timely
statistical information about how we are doing

Atlanta

1-800-424-6974

Boston

1-800-562-5721

Charlotte

1-800-331-7360

Chicago

1-800-865-6384

Dallas

1-800-835-9752

Denver

1-800-852-6159

successfully protected respondents’ answers for

Detroit

1-800-432-1495

over 100 years.

Kansas City

1-800-728-4748

Los Angeles

1-800-992-3530

New York

1-800-991-2520

Philadelphia

1-800-262-4236

Seattle

1-800-233-3308

economically, educationally, or socially. This is a
fundamental way that the American public can
make sure that our democracy is well informed.
For statistical surveys to work, those chosen at
random to be surveyed must respond. We want
you to feel safe doing this. The Census Bureau has

Our highest priority at the Census Bureau is using
your answers only for determining how the country
is doing. By law, we cannot share your answers
with anyone—including other federal agencies
and state and local law enforcement agencies.
In 2010, the Justice Department determined that
confidentiality law that protects census data.

Go to for a
complete listing of the states or counties
covered by each Regional Office.

We pledge to keep your answers confidential.

Learn more about our data protection and
privacy policy at .

no provision of the U.S. Patriot Act overrides the

This commitment means you can provide honest

census.gov

answers to our questions knowing that they will
only be merged into thousands of others to paint
a portrait of the country. The Census Bureau

Connect with us today:

knows that our pledge of confidentiality is key in
obtaining accurate data.

U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Issued April 2011
BC-1428RV

The U.S. Census Bureau
Respects Your Privacy and
Protects Your Personal Information
It’s the Law! (Title 13, U.S. Code)

We Will Protect Your Information.

It’s Safe

It’s Confidential

It’s Important

By law, the Census Bureau cannot share your

We will not release or share any data that

The Census Bureau measures America’s

answers with anyone.

could be used to identify you.

people, places, and economy. By

The Law
Title 13 of the U.S. Code ensures that all
information collected by the Census Bureau is
used for statistical purposes only.

The Oath
All Census Bureau employees take an oath of
nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect
the confidentiality of all data collected by
the agency.

The Penalties
The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up
to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or

participating in a census or survey, you
• Only authorized Census Bureau employees
can see your personal identifiable information.

The data that you provide tells us vital

applies to the White House, U.S. Supreme Court,

information about emerging trends, such as the

Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Citizenship and

condition of education, hospital care, retail sales,
and crime. The data also describe the health,

  Immigration Services, police, military, and

housing, employment, income, and consumer

welfare agencies—everybody!
• Copies of census questionnaires cannot be used

• Census data on individuals or establishments
Information Act.
• Statistical totals are even withheld if they

with technological safeguards. Our computer

represent a geographic area so small that

systems are strictly controlled through passwords,

someone might be indentified.

expenditures of our population.

Census Data and Our Economy

as evidence in a court of law.

Safety in the Digital Age

unauthorized access.

Census Data and Your Community

data from the Census Bureau. The airtight law

may not be disclosed under the Freedom of

firewalls, encryption, and auditing to prevent

community, and the country.

• No authority can obtain personal identifiable

both.

The Census Bureau protects your information

help shape the future for yourself, your

Economic data collected by the Census Bureau
form the basis for the national unemployment
rate, official income and poverty statistics,
Consumer Price Index, monthly housing statistics,

and other economic indicators.