II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2970 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 23, 2006 Mr. Kerry introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide free credit monitoring and credit reports for veterans and others affected by the theft of veterans' personal data, to ensure that such persons are appropriately notified of such thefts, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Veterans Identity Protection Act of 2006.
2.
Certification by Secretary of Veterans Affairs
(a)
In general
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (in this Act referred to as the Secretary) shall certify in writing to Congress that any individual whose personal information is compromised due to lax data security precautions at the Department of Veterans Affairs has been appropriately notified in writing of such compromise. (b)
Applicability
The certification required by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any compromise of personal information at the Department of Veterans Affairs occurring before or after the date of enactment of this Act, including with respect to the theft of data first publicly reported on May 22, 2006.
3.
Free services to victims of data security breaches
The Secretary shall provide, free of charge, to each individual whose personal information is (or was before the date of enactment of this Act) compromised due to lax data security precautions at the Department of Veterans Affairs— (1)credit monitoring services, during the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act; and (2)a copy of the credit report (as defined in section 603 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act) of the affected individual once annually during the 2-year period beginning on the date on which the credit monitoring services required by paragraph (1) terminate, which shall be in addition to any other credit report provided to the individual under otherwise applicable law, free of charge or otherwise.
4.
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act, $1,250,000,000.