Social Security Child Protection Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Social Security Child Protection Act, H.R. 3667.

Child identity theft is a serious problem in our country, and families across America should have the ability to protect their children when a child's Social Security number is compromised early in life.

When a child's identity falls into the hands of the wrong person, it sets the stage for a future of financial problems and headaches that can hinder their ability to do things like open a bank account, purchase a car, or establish a line of credit.

I know firsthand that when adoption takes place, often there is a recommendation that that child, who may already have a Social Security number, get a new Social Security number for their protection.

Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration's current policies make it challenging for families to obtain a new Social Security number after a child's Social Security number has been compromised.

This commonsense legislation that we propose would direct the Social Security Administration to issue a new Social Security number to a child under the age of 14 if that child's Social Security card was lost or stolen. Parents should not be forced to navigate bureaucratic red tape to protect their child's financial future.

I am proud to be leading this bipartisan solution with my friend and colleague, Representative Blumenauer. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure, and I thank my Ways and Means colleagues and staff for their support of this sensible legislation.

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