SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER CONFIDENTIALITY ACT OF 1999 -- (Extensions of Remarks - October 19, 2000)

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SPEECH OF HON. J.C. WATTS, JR.

OF OKLAHOMA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, October 17, 2000

Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, as the information age continues forward, crimes resulting from the use of stolen personal information have occurred with greater frequency. Time and time again, a person's identity is taken from them unknowingly and used to someone else's advantage. Information such as Social Security Numbers, financial records, or medical documents are often easily found and easily abused.

The problem is wide spread. Unfortunately, our own Federal Government, in the form of the Social Security Administration, helps to allow for identity theft to more easily occur. In an alarming practice, the Social Security Administration has the Department of Treasury print a Social Security recipient's name, address, and Social Security Number on their benefits check. This information is then openly displayed in the window of the envelope. These envelopes are placed in the public mail system when any individual could potentially, and relatively easily, gain access to this information. This practice is irresponsible and must be changed. We cannot allow senior citizens to be the victims of government irresponsibility.

H.R. 3218, ``The Social Security Number Confidentiality Act,'' addresses the practice of printing Social Security Numbers in a place where the number can easily be seen or accessed. This forward thinking legislation directs the Treasury Secretary to take the necessary steps to end the practice of printing a recipients Social Security Number in an open and visible location.

Current law ensures that information obtained by the Social Security Administration is confidential. This legislation will make sure that the Federal Government obeys the law, and that it does not act irresponsibly in its job of keeping personal information confidential.

I urge further action by the Congress to explore where further privacy protection is needed and where the Federal Government is not protecting that privacy. In the same way, it is important that citizens take steps to protect themselves. One should always be careful to guard personal information.

This legislation is a positive step in protecting the privacy of our Nation's senior citizens. I urge my colleagues to help pass this legislation and help keep our nation's citizens' private lives just that--private.
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