[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 20, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5682-H5683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1700
      SOCIAL SECURITY MUST AVERT IDENTITY LOSS (MAIL) ACT OF 2016

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 5320) to restrict the inclusion of social 
security account numbers on documents sent by mail by the Social 
Security Administration, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5320

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security Must Avert 
     Identity Loss (MAIL) Act of 2016''.

     SEC. 2. RESTRICTION ON SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBERS IN 
                   DOCUMENTS SENT BY MAIL.

       (a) In General.--Section 205(c)(2)(C) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(xiv)(I) The Commissioner of Social Security shall ensure 
     that no document sent by mail by the Social Security 
     Administration includes a complete social security account 
     number unless the Commissioner determines that inclusion of 
     such complete number is necessary.
       ``(II) Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this clause and not later than each of March 31 
     and September 30 of each of the first 6 years following the 
     year in which such date of enactment occurs, the Commissioner 
     of Social Security shall submit to the Committee on Ways and 
     Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Finance of the Senate a report on the implementation of 
     subclause (I). Such report shall include--
       ``(aa) the title and identification number of each document 
     used by the Social Security Administration during the 
     previous year on which is printed an individual's complete 
     social security account number;
       ``(bb) the most recent date on which each such document was 
     updated; and
       ``(cc) the projected date on which complete social security 
     account numbers will be removed from each such document, or 
     if the Commissioner determines that inclusion of such 
     complete number is necessary, the rationale for such 
     determination.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The Commissioner of Social Security 
     shall implement the amendments made under subsection (a) as 
     soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Brooks of Alabama). Pursuant to the 
rule, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson) and the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Levin) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to review and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5320, currently 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Today I rise as chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means 
Subcommittee on Social Security in support of the Social Security Must 
Avert Identity Loss Act of 2016, also known as the Social Security MAIL 
Act legislation. It is legislation that I introduced along with the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Renacci).
  Mr. Speaker, Social Security makes a point of telling Americans how 
important it is to protect their Social Security numbers. Time and time 
again, Americans are warned to protect their Social Security cards in 
order to avoid identity theft.
  For years I have been calling for ending the use of Social Security 
numbers unless it is absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, while some 
progress has been made, the Social Security Administration still 
includes Social Security numbers on some documents it mails. Just last 
year, Social Security sent out more than 233 million letters that 
included full Social Security numbers. This needs to stop and now.
  The bill requires Social Security to either remove Social Security 
numbers from mailings or explain why including a Social Security number 
is necessary. This commonsense legislation is supported by AARP and the 
Association of Mature American Citizens. Mr. Speaker, I include in the 
Record their letters of support.

                                                         AARP,

                                                    July 13, 2016.
     Hon. Sam Johnson,
     Chairman, House Subcommittee on Social Security.
       Dear Chairman Johnson: AARP supports H.R.5320, the Social 
     Security Must Avert Identity Loss (MAIL) Act of 2016, which 
     would protect Social Security numbers (SSNs) from 
     inappropriate public disclosure. AARP, with its nearly 38 
     million members in all 50 States and the District of 
     Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, is a 
     nonpartisan, nonprofit, nationwide organization that helps 
     people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, 
     strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter 
     most to families such as healthcare, employment and income 
     security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and 
     protection from financial abuse.
       Social Security is the primary source of retirement and 
     disability income for 60 million Americans. Personal 
     information about Social Security benefits, such as Social 
     Security numbers (SSNs), is critical financial information 
     and must be afforded the highest level of privacy protection. 
     H.R.5320 would ensure that Social Security numbers (SSNs) are 
     protected by making clear the Social Security Administration 
     may not include a full Social Security account number on any 
     document sent by mail unless the Commissioner of the Social 
     Security Administration determines that such inclusion is 
     necessary.
       AARP has a longstanding public policy position on Social 
     Security privacy that companies, government agencies, and 
     individuals should not be allowed to post or publicly display 
     SSNs, print them on cards, transmit them over the internet, 
     or send them by mail without safety measures. We appreciate 
     your recognition of the important need to protect personal 
     Social Security information and efforts to urge Congress to 
     make this needed change in the law.
       Because of Social Security, millions of Americans and their 
     families are able to live

[[Page H5683]]

     their lives with dignity and independence. We look forward to 
     continuing to work with you to ensure that all aspects of the 
     Social Security program remain strong for future generations 
     of American workers and their families. If you have any 
     questions, please feel free to call me.
       Sincerely,
                                                  Joyce A. Rogers,
     Senior Vice President, Government Affairs.
                                  ____



                                                         AMAC,

                                                    June 30, 2016.
     Hon. Sam Johnson,
     Chairman, Social Security Subcommittee, House Committee on 
         Ways and Means, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Jim Renacci,
     16th District, Ohio,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Johnson and Congressman Renacci: On behalf of 
     the 1.3 million members of AMAC, the Association of Mature 
     American Citizens, I am writing in strong support of the H.R. 
     5320, the Social Security Must Avert Identity Loss Act of 
     2016, or the Social Security MAIL Act of 2016. This important 
     piece of legislation seeks to protect Social Security 
     beneficiaries from runaway identity theft that has become all 
     too common for senior citizens. As identity theft becomes 
     more and more rampant across the country, this timely bill 
     offers a smart, sensible solution to a problem millions of 
     seniors face annually.
       Last year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) sent 
     352 million notices by mail--including 233 million notices 
     containing an individual's full Social Security number. With 
     such massive amounts of mail being delivered with unnecessary 
     and identity-compromising information, there are several 
     opportunities for criminals to steal an individual's 
     identity. In fact, in 2014, it is estimated that roughly 7% 
     of the population over the age of 16 were victims of identity 
     theft. As the world gets smaller, and as more criminals see 
     opportunities to steal identities in any way they can, H.R. 
     5320 offers a commonsense solution to Social Security 
     beneficiaries who are unknowingly being put at risk by the 
     unnecessary use of their Social Security number.
       The Social Security MAIL Act of 2016 is as simple as it is 
     smart. The bill mandates that the SSA ensure no piece of mail 
     being sent to an individual includes that individual's 
     complete Social Security account number--unless it is 
     absolutely necessary. As rates of identity theft continue to 
     go up, Congress must take action to prevent making identity 
     theft easier for opportunistic criminals. A bill like H.R. 
     5320 is long overdue, and we encourage House leadership to 
     act on behalf of Social Security beneficiaries and take swift 
     action to enact this bill.
       As an organization committed to representing the interests 
     of mature Americans and seniors, AMAC is dedicated to 
     ensuring senior citizens' interests are protected. We applaud 
     Chairman Johnson, Congressman Renacci, and your attentive 
     staffs for your thoughtful and practical solution to protect 
     seniors from identity theft. AMAC is pleased to offer our 
     organization's full support to the Social Security MAIL Act 
     of 2016.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Dan Weber,
                                    President and Founder of AMAC.

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Americans rightly expect that 
the Social Security Administration keeps their personal information 
safe. This bill makes sure Social Security doesn't include a Social 
Security number in documents it mails unless it is absolutely 
necessary. It is a commonsense solution to a problem that shouldn't 
exist in the first place.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members in the House to vote ``yes'' and pass 
the Social Security MAIL Act today.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This bill codifies current practice at the Social Security 
Administration, which is to remove Social Security numbers from its 
letters and notices in order to reduce the risk of identity theft.
  It is important to note that SSA is ahead of the game on these 
efforts. It has not included Social Security numbers on statements 
since 2001. Checks have not contained Social Security numbers since 
2004, and the annual COLA notice no longer contains full Social 
Security numbers.
  This bill before us also requires SSA to report to Congress twice 
each year for the next 6 years on its progress toward removing Social 
Security numbers from all mail documents.
  I am glad that SSA has already taken important steps to protect 
Americans' identities, and I commend SSA for the high value it places 
on protecting Americans' private information.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Renacci).
  Mr. RENACCI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Johnson for his leadership 
on the Subcommittee on Social Security and for his leadership on this 
legislation.
  Identity theft is an issue that has become all too prevalent in 
recent years. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission received over 
490,000 identity theft complaints in 2015. This represents a 47 percent 
increase compared to 2014.
  As a personal victim of identity theft, I understand the frustration, 
fear, and sense of helplessness of having your identity stolen. I also 
understand the worry that victims have that someone will use their 
identity to file other fraudulent claims. The Federal Government and 
Federal agencies have a responsibility to carefully protect every 
American's identifying information. That is why I was stunned to learn 
that the Social Security Administration provided a full Social Security 
number on over 230 million documents that it sent out in 2015. This 
represents 66 percent of all mailings.
  The volume of documents that contain Americans' full Social Security 
number puts Americans unnecessarily at risk of having their identity 
stolen. In fact, in a recent report, the inspector general of the 
Social Security Administration stated that the ``more SSNs are 
unnecessarily used, the higher the probability they may be used 
inappropriately.'' This led the inspector general to recommend that the 
SSA should take steps to remove Social Security numbers from documents 
and that the Social Security Administration should be at the forefront 
of limiting the use of full Social Security numbers.
  Our legislation helps address this problem. H.R. 5320 simply directs 
the Social Security Administration to remove full Social Security 
numbers from mailings when they simply are not needed. To northeast 
Ohioans, this is just common sense.
  Also, this bill will ensure Congress provides the proper amount of 
oversight over the Social Security Administration, requiring the 
administration to justify the continued use of full Social Security 
numbers on mailed documents.
  All Americans should have the confidence in knowing that the Social 
Security Administration is doing everything within its power to protect 
Social Security numbers. I urge all Members to support this 
commonsense, bipartisan legislation.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, having no other speakers, I am 
prepared to close my remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I urge all Members of the House to vote ``yes'' 
and pass the Social Security MAIL Act today so the Senate can take 
action soon and the President can sign it into law without delay.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5320, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. HUELSKAMP. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________