[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 82 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         STOP THE FRIVOLOUS USAGE OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

                                 ______


                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 1996

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today legislation 
to limit the frivolous usage of the Social Security number.
  In March, I was contacted by a constituent of mine who went to apply 
for a credit card at a local wholesale club. The application required 
him to list his Social Security number. When he refused, the store 
threatened to deny his application.
  In my judgment, this situation is unacceptable. The Social Security 
number was designed by our Government for one simple use: To follow 
workers throughout their employment history in order to ensure that 
they received the Social Security benefits due to them upon their 
retirement. Over the years, the Federal Government's usage of the 
Social Security number has expanded to other legitimate uses like 
taxpayer identification and welfare benefits distribution. Congress has 
provided for each of these expansions with specific language in 
statute.
  Meanwhile, the use of the Social Security number in the private 
sector has run rampant. Citizens are now asked or required to give the 
number to get grocery store check cashing cards, to apply for credit 
cards, or even to make golf tee time reservations. It is time to limit 
these frivolous uses of what should be strictly a Government 
identifier--not a national ID number.
  My legislation will restrict use of the Social Security number to 
bona fide Government, tax, and related purposes. It bans companies from 
buying or selling marketing lists that contain Social Security numbers 
and prohibits the private sector from requiring customers to divulge 
the number as a condition of doing business.
  Exceptions are made for current Federal uses of the Social Security 
number, as well as State usage for drivers licenses, motor vehicle 
registration, welfare benefits, and tax purposes. In addition, my bill 
preserves the ability of companies to use the number for taxpayer 
identification. This is important for banks that must report interest 
income to the IRS, payroll companies withholding taxes, and a limited 
number of other groups.
  The provisions of my bill will be enforced by the Office of 
Management and Budget, which currently polices Privacy Act violations, 
in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe my legislation addresses a problem that has 
been ignored for too long. I look forward to working with Social 
Security Subcommittee Chairman Bunning and the rest of my colleagues to 
enact this bill.

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