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Lawmakers Target Identity Theft
In New Bill
WASHINGTON (Mon., Jan. 27) – Senators Dianne
Feinstein (D-Calif.), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
announced legislation Monday at a Capitol Hill news conference that
would reduce identity theft by protecting Americans’ Social Security
numbers.
The Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act
would bar the sale and display of Social Security numbers and restrict
the use of those numbers by both government agencies and private
businesses. Specifically, it would:
- Prohibit the sale and display of a Social
Security number without the expressed consent of the individual,
while permitting legitimate business-to-business and
business-to-government uses of Social Security numbers.
- Prohibit the government from displaying Social
Security numbers on public records posted on the Internet or issued
to the public through electronic media.
- Limit, for the first time, when businesses may
require customers to provide their Social Security numbers.
- Authorize the Social Security Administration
to issue penalties of up to $5,000 for people who misuse a Social
Security number.
- Create a five-year maximum prison sentence for
anyone who obtains another person’s Social Security number for the
purpose of physically injuring, harming or illegally using the
identity of that person.
“Criminals can steal someone’s identity, money
and reputation with a simple keystroke,” said Leahy, the ranking
Democrat on the Judiciary Committee which has jurisdiction over the
bill. “Armed with a name, address and Social Security number a
wrongdoer can apply for and receive a credit card and repeatedly steal
from any person. Americans should not have to worry that their very
identities are at risk of being stolen, and this bill will help
achieve that important goal.”
The senators plan to introduce the bill this
week. Leahy, as chairman last year of the Judiciary Committee,
expedited the panel’s hearing on and approval of the bill. The bill
went to the Senate floor, but the bill was not enacted by the end of
the legislative session.
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