[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 49 (Thursday, April 21, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E720-E721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTORDUCTION OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER PRIVACY AND IDENTITY THEFT 
                         PREVENTION ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. E. CLAY SHAW, JR.

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 20, 2005

  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, the use of Social Security numbers is rampant. 
When Social Security numbers were created in 1936, their only purpose 
was to track a worker's earnings so that Social Security benefits could 
be calculated. But today, we literally have a culture of dependence on 
Social Security numbers.
  Businesses and governments use the number as the primary way of 
identifying individuals. All of us know how difficult it is to conduct 
even the most mundane transactions without having to provide our Social 
Security number first. It's no wonder identity theft has become the 
fastest growing white collar crime.
  Worse yet, terrorists, including those responsible for the September 
11th attacks, misuse SSNs in order to assimilate into our society.
  Barely a day goes by without hearing more examples of the truly 
devastating effects of identity theft. During a hearing of the Ways and 
Means Subcommittee on Social Security hearing, we learned about a widow 
whose husband died in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade 
Center--an illegal immigrant used her deceased husband's Social 
Security number to get a driver's license and to work. We also heard 
about individuals whose credit was ruined, who were arrested for crimes 
they did not commit, and who spent

[[Page E721]]

years and hundreds or even thousands of dollars out of their own 
pockets trying to clear their names because of identity theft often 
facilitated by obtaining the individual's Social Security number.
  Concerns about identity theft are increasing dramatically. According 
to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is the number one 
consumer complaint--amounting to 39 percent of complaints received in 
2004. In fact, my state, Florida, is sixth in the nation in the number 
of identity theft victims per 100,000 people.
  Clearly, there is need for a comprehensive law to better protect the 
privacy of Social Security numbers and protect the American public from 
being victimized. Today, I re-introduce the ``Social Security Number 
Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2005,'' which is similar 
to bipartisan legislation introduced during the last Congress. In the 
public and private sector, the bill would restrict the sale and public 
display of Social Security numbers, limit dissemination of Social 
Security numbers by credit reporting agencies, make it more difficult 
for businesses to deny services if a customer refuses to provide his or 
her Social Security number and establish civil and criminal penalties 
for violations.
  Congress must act to protect the very number it requires each of us 
to obtain and use throughout our lifetime. Providing for uses of Social 
Security numbers that benefit the public while protecting these numbers 
from being used by criminals, or even terrorists, is a complex 
balancing act. This bill achieves that balance by ensuring Social 
Security numbers are exchanged only when necessary and protected from 
indiscriminant disclosure. I urge Members to co-sponsor this important 
legislation.

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