[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 76 (Thursday, June 5, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  THE PERSONAL INFORMATION PRIVACY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 5, 1997

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Personal 
Information Privacy Act, a bill to protect individual privacy.
  My legislation amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to make it 
illegal for credit bureaus to release or sell Social Security numbers, 
unlisted phone numbers, birth dates, and mothers' maiden names. It also 
revises the Social Security Act and the Drivers' Protection Act of 1994 
to ban the commercial use of Social Security numbers. Under the bill, 
victims can sue willful violators for up to $50,000 for damages and 
attorneys' fees. Businesses have 2 years after the date of enactment to 
comply with the new provisions.
  This legislation is the House companion bill to the bi-partisan 
Personal Information Privacy Act, S. 600, introduced by Senators 
Feinstein and Grassley.
  It's no secret that it is easier than ever before to learn private 
details about your friends, neighbors, strangers and even Members of 
Congress, whether from the Internet, credit bureaus, governments, or a 
variety of other sources. Time magazine has a story about it in this 
week's issue--it's called ``No Privacy on the Web.''
  Nor can we soon forget the public uproar that resulted when the 
Social Security Administration put its earnings data on the World Wide 
Web. Thousands of users flocked to the site, knowing they could access 
personal data by just a Social Security number, birth date, mother's 
maiden name, and a few other bits of information. I was among those in 
Congress who urged the agency to discontinue the practice, which, 
thankfully, it did.
  Few will dispute that the crime of identity fraud is on the rise. 
Criminals steal their victims' account numbers, run up debts and even 
rent apartments in their name, then leave the victims with bad credit 
reports and a lengthy battle to reclaim their good name. Polls show 
that the number of Americans who are concerned about privacy is at an 
all-time high.
  Unfortunately, this problem does not end with simple fraud. Stalkers 
can easily gain access to a person's unlisted phone number and home 
address. Before the passage of the 1994 Drivers Privacy Protection Act, 
there were no rules preventing any kind of personal information from 
being sold by State departments of motor vehicles. Now, over 40 States 
have laws preventing DMVs from selling this information. However, 
stalkers and other criminals can still access private information from 
DMVs in many States in order to find their victims much more easily.
  Robert John Bardo, an obsessed fan of actress Rebecca Schaeffer of 
the television show, ``My Sister Sam,'' wanted to find out her home 
address. When he got it, he went to her home and shot her to death. How 
did he get this unlisted address? From the California Department of 
Motor Vehicles, which included this information on its database.
  As the Time magazine article pointed out, a little effort and 
ingenuity is all that is needed to access personal information about 
Members of Congress. The reporter was able to quite easily obtain 
information about Senator Feinstein, including her driving record, 
lawsuits in which she is involved, her unlisted phone number, current 
and past addresses, campaign donations, and even her credit report.
  Mr. Speaker, the Personal Information Privacy Act transcends party 
lines. Democrats and Republicans are equally at risk of having their 
identities stolen on their lives threatened. I hope that my colleagues 
will join me in supporting this legislation.

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