Ehrlich on Washington column, August 9, 1999

NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 205 1 5 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of August 9, 1 999 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. MAKING IT COUNT WITH JOBS Part 2, The U.S. Census As mandated by our Constitution, the federal government through the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a population and housing census every 10 years in order to obtain data needed for communities to receive federal program funds, and for private sector and community planning. Processing the millions of completed forms is a massive undertaking requiring a joint effort by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the private sector. Lockheed Martin, TRW, and Computer Sciences Corporation will coordinate the processing of nearly 120 million returned census questionnaires throughout the country in three new data collection centers. Maryland, particularly eastern Baltimore County, is fortunate to be selected as the location of the first of three regional data collection sites built expressly for the 2000 Census. The opening of the Baltimore Census 2000 Baltimore Data Capture Center in the Rosedale area will create thousands of new employment opportunities. In the next several weeks, team leaders, administrative assistants, key entry operators, general clerks, shipping and receiving clerks will be hired for an initial 5-week period, with the opportunity to be rehired in February 2000. This several week “testing period” will allow for the testing of the equipment and procedures that will ensure the timely and accurate processing of nearly 40 million questionnaires starting early in the new year. The employees hired during this testing period may be called on to fill more than 2500 available positions which will become available in February. Computer Sciences Corporation, CSC, has begun local area recruiting to hire and train thousands