Social Security Fraud Prevention Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3779, Social Security Fraud Prevention Act of 2016. This was introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao).

Social Security numbers were first created for the sole purpose of allowing the Federal Government to track the earnings history of individuals to determine Social Security benefits. However, over the course of time, both the Federal Government and the private sector found these numbers to be valuable tools to keep track of individuals for a wide variety of reasons, including tax reporting and credit history. You can name how many different things where they require your Social Security number in order to figure out and identify who you are.

Because of these changes, Social Security numbers have become incredibly important in today's high-tech society. In fact, they can be used for a good deal of purposes in a positive way, but they can also be used in a nefarious way to try to create a fictitious identification for somebody.

They are necessary for applying to college, getting a credit card, or opening a bank account. However, in the hands of the wrong people, Social Security numbers can lead to identity theft, something that is very destructive to those affected.

Troublingly, the sponsor of this bill, Mr. Valadao, reported an interaction with one of his constituents who received a government document with a Social Security number printed on the outside of the envelope. It was on the outside of the envelope.

Mr. Speaker, this is totally and completely unacceptable. Given the dangers associated with identity theft, the Federal Government must do more to safeguard Social Security numbers.

Indeed, 2 weeks ago, my committee released a 231-page report detailing the majority staff's investigative findings concerning a data breach of personally identifiable information by the United States Office of Personnel Management.

Mr. Speaker, this information included the Social Security numbers of more than 20 million Americans. As a result, an Oversight and Government Reform Committee report recommended Federal agencies reduce the use of Social Security numbers in order to mitigate the risk of identity theft.

What the bill does that Mr. Valadao has introduced, H.R. 3779, is bring us closer to this goal by requiring Federal agencies to limit the sending of Social Security numbers via mail and to completely ban sending Social Security numbers in a way in which they can be seen on the outside of any package.
Ultimately, this bill will protect Americans from having their Social
Security numbers needlessly revealed by the Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan piece of
legislation.

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