[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 24, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H7113-H7115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IMPROVING SOCIAL SECURITY'S SERVICE TO VICTIMS OF IDENTITY THEFT ACT

  Mr. BISHOP of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 6084) to amend title VII of the Social Security Act 
to provide for a single point of contact at the Social Security 
Administration for individuals who are victims of identity theft, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6084

       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 ``Improving Social Security's 
     Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act''.

     SEC. 2. SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR IDENTITY THEFT VICTIMS.

       (a) In General.--Title VII of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SECTION 714. SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR IDENTITY THEFT 
                   VICTIMS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Commissioner of Social Security 
     shall establish and implement procedures to ensure that any 
     individual whose social security account number has been 
     misused (such as to fraudulently obtain benefits under title 
     II, VIII, or XVI of this Act, in a manner that affects an 
     individual's records at the Social Security Administration, 
     or in a manner that prompts the individual to request a new 
     social security account number) has a single point of contact 
     at the Social Security Administration throughout the 
     resolution of the individual's case. The single point of 
     contact shall track the individual's case to completion and 
     coordinate with other units to resolve issues as quickly as 
     possible.
       ``(b) Single Point of Contact.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (a), the 
     single point of contact shall consist of a team or subset of 
     specially trained employees who--
       ``(A) have the ability to coordinate with other units to 
     resolve the issues involved in the individual's case, and
       ``(B) shall be accountable for the case until its 
     resolution.
       ``(2) Team or subset.--The employees included within the 
     team or subset described in paragraph (1) may change as 
     required to meet the needs of the Social Security 
     Administration, provided that procedures have been 
     established to--
       ``(A) ensure continuity of records and case history, and
       ``(B) notify the individual when appropriate.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous materials on H.R. 6084, currently under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.

[[Page H7114]]

  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today and pleased that we are 
considering this bipartisan legislation that I introduced with a friend 
of mine from Connecticut, Ranking Member Larson, H.R. 6084, the 
Improving Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act.
  This is an issue that is important to all of us in all of our 
districts. As you well know, Mr. Speaker, identity theft is a crime 
that is growing at very alarming rates around the country. Supporting 
victims of identity theft is something I have long championed. As a 
former local prosecutor and advocate for victims, I gained a real 
understanding of the plight of many Americans and what they face in 
recovering from identity theft and from other forms of exploitation.
  In response, I spent a large part of my legislative career working on 
victim's rights and ensuring justice. I am pleased that we are 
considering H.R. 6084 today.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans who are victims of identity theft often face 
an uphill battle when they contact the Social Security Administration 
for help. All too often, these individuals find themselves being 
bounced around in phone trees from recording to recording, person to 
person, only to start all over again with each new person with whom 
they speak.
  In many cases, an individual will speak to multiple people at the 
Social Security Administration by phone, only then to be told that they 
need to go to a field office to resolve the situation.
  Mr. Speaker, I just think that is wrong. These are victims of 
identity theft who urgently need assistance from the Social Security 
Administration so that they can get their lives back on track. But too 
many of these victims are being revictimized by the Social Security 
Administration's cumbersome and disorganized system. It is high time 
that the Social Security Administration improves its customer service 
to victims of identity theft.
  That is why I introduced H.R. 6084, the bipartisan legislation which 
will require the Social Security Administration to provide a single 
point of contact at the agency to an individual who needs to resolve a 
problem with the Social Security Administration because of the misuse 
of his or her Social Security number.
  This important bill will help Americans get the assistance they need 
from the Social Security Administration by implementing a customer-
focused process. I am pleased to have the support of AARP, the National 
Council of Social Security Management Associations, and the Association 
of Mature American Citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record statements of support for my 
bill from those groups.

                                                         AARP,

                                    Washington, DC, June 21, 2018.
     Hon. Kevin Brady,
     Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Richard Neal,
     Ranking Member, House Committee on Ways and Means, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Neal: On behalf of 
     AARP's 38 million members, we are writing in support of the 
     H.R. 6084, the Improving Social Security's Service to Victims 
     of Identity Theft Act of 2018. The bill directs the Social 
     Security Administration (SSA) to provide a single point of 
     contact and a team of SSA staff to help redress any problems 
     faced by Social Security ID theft victims. AARP is strongly 
     committed to protecting consumers from identity theft and 
     supports your efforts to improve the assistance offered to 
     individuals whose Social Security number has been 
     compromised.
       An individual's Social Security number is critical 
     financial information and integral to everyone's personal 
     identity. The range of fraud that can be committed when an 
     individual's Social Security number has been compromised is 
     truly staggering, and the time and effort required to 
     reassert one's financial identity can be daunting. 
     Streamlining and simplifying the assistance that the SSA 
     offers an identity theft victim will be welcomed by 
     individuals who are caught in an often overwhelming 
     situation.
       We look forward to continuing to work with you to promote 
     the integrity of the Social Security program, and to protect 
     the identities of American workers and their families.
           Sincerely,

                                              Joyce A. Rogers,

                                            Senior Vice President,
     Government Affairs.
                                  ____



                                                         AMAC,

                                                    June 18, 2018.
     Hon. Mike Bishop,
     8th Congressional District, Michigan, Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Bishop: On behalf of the 1.3 million 
     members of AMAC, the Association of Mature American Citizens, 
     I am writing in support of H.R. 6084, the Improving Social 
     Security's Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act. This 
     important piece of legislation will make it easier for 
     seniors to track the status of their identity theft claims at 
     the Social Security Administration (SSA). By establishing a 
     single point of contact for an identity theft case, H.R. 6084 
     is a smart, senior-focused solution to a growing problem.
       Every year, millions of Americans, and particularly 
     seniors, fall victim to identity theft. While being 
     victimized is bad enough, the process of restoring financial 
     security and recovering peace of mind can be a long, arduous, 
     and convoluted process. For seniors, these problems are 
     particularly acute as they primarily work with SSA--one of 
     the nation's largest federal bureaucracies--to restore their 
     financial security.
       H.R. 6084 seeks to improve customer service to identity 
     theft victims in a way that is both smart and practical. 
     Under this proposal, when an identity theft victim requests a 
     new Social Security number, they will be assigned a single 
     point of contact at SSA to manage their case until it is 
     resolved. For seniors, this will prove invaluable as they 
     will no longer have to navigate SSA's massive federal 
     structure to resolve their identity theft case. Seniors can 
     have a singular, reliable, and approachable case manager who 
     can answer their questions, monitor the status of their 
     claim, and help seniors in need of assistance.
       As an organization committed to representing mature 
     Americans and seniors, AMAC is dedicated to ensuring senior 
     citizens' interests are protected. We applaud Congressman 
     Bishop for his practical and timely solution to help identity 
     theft victims in their most vulnerable time. AMAC is pleased 
     to offer our organization's full support to the Improving 
     Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Dan Weber,
     President and Founder of AMAC.
                                  ____

         National Council of Social Security Management 
           Associations, Inc.,
                                     Arlington, VA, July 16, 2018.
     Hon. Mike Bishop,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Sam Johnson,
     Chairman, House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Social 
         Security, Washington, DC.
     Hon. John B. Larson,
     Ranking Member, House of Representatives, Subcommittee on 
         Social Security, Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Bishop, Chairman Johnson and Ranking 
     Member Larson: On behalf of the National Council of Social 
     Security Management Associations (NCSSMA) and our members 
     throughout the nation, I would like to thank you for your 
     introduction and original cosponsorship of H.R. 6084, the 
     Improving Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity 
     Theft Act. We very much appreciate your leadership on this 
     important legislation to ensure a measure that will not only 
     benefit and protect the American public, but also ease the 
     administrative burden on the hardworking employees of the 
     Social Security Administration (SSA) by establishing a single 
     point of contact for an identity theft case. H.R. 6084 is a 
     commonsense solution to a growing problem.
       NCSSMA is pleased to support H.R. 6084 as it reinforces 
     NCSSMA's own efforts and initiatives to provide the best 
     service to the American people, through the effective and 
     efficient administration of SSA's programs. Millions of 
     Americans fall victim to identity theft every year. We 
     believe this legislation will help identity theft victims 
     work with a single point of contact at SSA to assist in 
     resolving their identity theft case.
       As an organization that is committed to improving 
     management and program administration in SSA while advocating 
     for an agency that remains customer focused with an emphasis 
     on excellent public service, we commend you for your 
     practical and timely solution to help identity theft victims. 
     NCSSMA is pleased to offer our organization's support to the 
     Improving Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity 
     Theft Act.
       Thank you again for your leadership. Please do not hesitate 
     to contact me if you have any questions or if we can provide 
     additional assistance.
           Sincerely,
                                              Christopher Detzler,
                                                 NCSSMA President.

  Mr. BISHOP of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6084, which will provide 
needed assistance to victims of identity theft. The Committee on Ways 
and Means has been engaged for some time on the issue of identity 
theft. In particular, we are stewards of the Social Security

[[Page H7115]]

number which is a target for identity thieves because it is the key to 
unlocking a stolen identity.
  Identity theft is a growing problem and online hacking has led to 
major security breaches in both government, and extensively in the 
private sector. Americans of all ages, even children, are vulnerable to 
having their identity stolen. This can wreak havoc in people's lives.
  One thing we can do, which we are doing today, is to make sure that 
individuals can get the assistance they need from the Social Security 
Administration, SSA, when identity theft has caused problems with their 
benefits, or if their number has been severely compromised.
  For example, fraudsters have been able to steal a Social Security 
number and use it to file a fraudulent benefit application or to file a 
false tax return and claim a refund. For some individuals, the theft of 
their identity creates such damage that they are forced to request a 
new Social Security number.
  Right now, identity theft victims trying to resolve an issue related 
to the misuse of their Social Security numbers may have to contact SSA 
multiple times, speaking to several different people, before the issue 
can be fully resolved.
  This legislation provides individuals with a single point of contact 
in the Social Security Administration that will be responsible for 
resolving all Social Security-related issues in connection with a 
theft. This unit will be accountable to identity theft victims until 
completion, and will track the individual's case and coordinate with 
other units to resolve all of these issues as quickly as possible.
  I certainly support this legislation, which was reported out of the 
Ways and Means Committee by a unanimous vote. I urge support for H.R. 
6084, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), one of the great leaders of 
this body.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good 
friends, Representative Bishop, and Ranking Member Larson, for their 
work on this commonsense bill.
  I have heard firsthand how hard it can be for victims of identity 
theft to work with the Social Security Administration.

                              {time}  1530

  Recently, a man told me about his experience of someone trying to 
claim his benefit. First, he got a letter from Social Security telling 
him to call them about his claim. He hadn't made a claim, so he called 
Social Security at the number they gave him, and he never heard back. 
Later, when he tried to file a claim of his own, he ended up having to 
make four separate calls. Then, Social Security told him they couldn't 
help him over the phone. Because of the fraudulent claim, they said he 
had to go to a field office. As a result of all this hassling, he 
decided to just put off filing his claim.
  If this bill had been in place, he would have had someone in Social 
Security to help him. Instead, he got the runaround. Having a single 
point of contact at Social Security for victims of identity theft just 
makes sense.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the sponsors for their hard work, and I 
urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, as today's debate on this legislation has shown, victims 
of identity theft in this country are facing an uphill battle in 
getting assistance from the Social Security Administration. Simply put, 
the current disconnected structure at the Social Security 
Administration isn't working for the American people. In response, my 
bill would require the Social Security Administration to assign a 
single point of contact at the agency to those who need to solve a 
problem with the Social Security Administration because of the misuse 
of his or her Social Security number.
  This simply put but important reform will bring an added level of 
comfort to victims of identity theft and will ensure that they are 
receiving the quality care that they deserve.
  In closing, I thank Ranking Member Larson for assisting in this bill 
and joining me in offering the bill. I also thank Chairman Brady, 
Ranking Member Neal, and my fellow Ways and Means members for their 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
important bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6084, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________