Social Security Child Protection Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3667) to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide for the reissuance of social security account numbers to young children in cases where confidentiality has been compromised, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3667

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 ``Social Security Child Protection Act of 2023''. SEC. 2. REISSUANCE OF SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBERS TO YOUNG CHILDREN IN CASES WHERE CONFIDENTIALITY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.

(a) In General.--Section 205(c)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(B)) is amended--

(1) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv); and

(2) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new clause:

``(iii) In any case in which a social security account number has been issued to a child who has not attained the age of 14 pursuant to subclause (IV) or (V) of clause (i) and it is demonstrated by evidence, as determined by the Commissioner of Social Security, and submitted under penalty of perjury to the Commissioner by a parent or guardian of the child that in the course of transmission of the social security card to the child, the confidentiality of such number has been compromised by reason of loss or theft of such social security card, the Commissioner shall issue a new social security account number to such child and make note in the records maintained with respect to such child of the pertinent information received by the Commissioner regarding the loss or theft of the social security card.''.

(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to identity theft, it is not just ourselves, our friends, and our coworkers, but it is also children who are at risk.

In 2021, roughly 1.25 million children were the victims of identity fraud. In many cases, it can take years before families discover that their children had their Social Security numbers stolen and misused by criminals.

Unfortunately, when parents try to obtain a new Social Security number for their child, they hit a government roadblock. Under existing policy, the Social Security Administration will only issue a new number if a child can show this theft caused harm within the past 2 years.

Because children do not have a work or credit history, many families never realize their child's identity has been compromised until it is too late.

Last year, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem testified that her family was victimized by an improper disclosure of their Social Security numbers.

Congress must take steps to protect the American people from identity theft and those who have had their Social Security numbers compromised.

H.R. 3667, the Social Security Child Protection Act of 2023 introduced by Representatives Wenstrup and Blumenauer, will require the Social Security Administration to immediately issue a new number to a child under the age of 14 when that child's Social Security card has been compromised.

This is a commonsense fix to a serious problem that millions of families face every year, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
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Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank my colleagues for a bipartisan effort in moving forward a solution. I am proud to say that the tradition within the Committee on Ways and Means, especially Social Security issues, is bipartisan. When we can work together, we can move legislation forward.

I always welcome opportunities to have discussions that we know are important for America. On the need to address Social Security, it is my hope we can have a bipartisan action moving forward.

Meanwhile, we have a bill here that I think shows that we can work together to strengthen Social Security, that we can root out some fraud, assist the American people in rooting out fraud, and, hopefully, ultimately, prevent it so that Social Security can be stronger as a result.

Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank Dr. Wenstrup for his diligent effort along the way, and I urge my colleagues to support this good piece of legislation.
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