[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2347 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2347

  To ensure the accuracy of information regarding the eligibility of 
        applicants for benefits under Federal benefit programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 31, 1997

  Mrs. Maloney of New York (for herself and Mr. Horn) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government 
                          Reform and Oversight

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To ensure the accuracy of information regarding the eligibility of 
        applicants for benefits under Federal benefit programs.

    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 ``Federal Benefit Verification and 
Integrity Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION TO VERIFY LOAN 
              APPLICATION DATA.

    (a) In General.--The head of any agency that is responsible for 
approving the provision of benefits under a Federal benefit program may 
not approve provision of any benefit under the program to an applicant, 
unless the applicant includes in the application for the benefit 
written authorization and consent for the agency head to obtain from 
any other State or Federal agency any information or data, or a copy of 
any record, in the possession of such other agency as is necessary to 
verify, validate, or otherwise confirm the accuracy of information 
submitted by the applicant to obtain the benefit.
    (b) Scope of Authorization and Consent.--Authorization and consent 
required under subsection (a)--
            (1) shall include, but not be limited to, authorization and 
        consent to obtain information, data, and copies of records to 
        validate, verify, or otherwise confirm the applicant's name, 
        address, taxpayer identifying number, income (including wages), 
        and assets; and
            (2) shall apply to information, data, and records 
        maintained by any State or Federal agency that the applicant is 
        entitled or authorized to review or obtain.
    (c) Fee.--The head of any State or Federal agency from whom 
information or records are sought under this section may charge a fee 
to cover the cost of providing the information or copies of records. 
The amount of any fee under this subsection shall not exceed an amount 
directly related to the cost of providing the information or copies of 
records requested.
    (d) Relationship to Privacy Act.--This section shall not be 
considered to supersede or otherwise affect any requirement or 
restriction of section 552a of title 5, United States Code.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Applicant.--The term ``applicant'' means--
                    (A) any person that applies for a benefit under a 
                Federal benefit program; and
                    (B) any other person about whom information is 
                requested by an agency responsible for approving the 
                provision of benefits under a Federal benefit program 
                as part of the review of an application for benefits 
                under the program, such as a potential guarantor of a 
                federally guaranteed loan.
            (2) Federal benefit program.--The term ``Federal benefit 
        program'' has the meaning given that term in section 552a of 
        title 5, United States Code.
                                 <all>