[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 107 (Friday, July 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE LIFE OF TYLER BENTON BALES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARLENE HOOLEY

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2003

  Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, two and a half years ago, a dear 
boy in Salem named Tyler Benton Bales lost his battle with a rare 
genetic disease called Hurler Syndrome.
  Although I never had the pleasure of knowing him, Tyler was somewhat 
of a celebrity in Salem. In fact, he was the subject of a front page 
article in the Salem Statesmen Journal in December of 2001, when a 
silent auction was held to raise money to offset the cost of an 
expensive bone marrow transplant that was his only chance to beat 
Hurlers Syndrome.
  Unfortunately, Tyler's heart was not strong enough to survive the 
rigors of his transplant and chemotherapy. This sweet boy was only 
sixteen months old when he passed away.
  The heartache of Tyler's loss did not ease for his parents.
  As if it were not hard enough to lose your sixteen month old child, 
the Bales later learned--courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service--that 
someone was claiming Tyler as a dependent on their 2000 income tax 
return.
  As disturbing as that was, the story got worse.
  Because of disclosure issues, the IRS would not give out the name of 
the identity thief to the Salem Police Department, even though identity 
theft is a felony offense in Oregon. To date, two and one half years 
later, the Bales still do not know the identity of this thief. Because 
of current laws, the Bales and Salem Police Department will never know 
who stole their son's personal information.
  Mr. Speaker, we can't even begin to imagine the anguish this family 
went through.
  Tyler Benton Bales was so much more than a name, a date of birth, and 
a Social Security number--he was a little boy who was surrounded by 
love during his brief time with us. His parents--and the countless 
number of other people who loved him--should not see his memory 
dishonored by a common thief whose identity could not legally be 
disclosed by the IRS.
  Mr. Speaker, that is why I am reintroducing the ``ID Theft Loophole 
Closure Bill.'' This legislation simply changes the law to allow the 
IRS to furnish the name, Social Security number and address of a 
suspected identity thief to state and local law enforcement agencies 
for the exclusive purpose of locating the individual.
  Just last Thursday the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social 
Security conducted hearings on the use and misuse of social security 
numbers. It is my hope that this legislation will be forwarded to the 
subcommittee as they seek to address ways to curb fraud and the theft 
of social security numbers.
  Identity theft is not a victimless crime, although thieves don't put 
a gun to your head. We must cut through red tape that is preventing 
thieves from being prosecuted for their crimes, and I believe this 
legislation is the right tool for the job. I urge my colleagues to 
support the ``ID Theft Loophole Closure Act,'' and yield the balance of 
my time.

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