[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26558]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 26, 1994]


  
  
  
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

 

Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program Between the 
Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Postal Service

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of computer matching program.

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    Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
and the United States Postal Service (USPS) propose to conduct a 
computer matching program. The purpose of the program is to identify 
and locate USPS employees who owe delinquent debts to the Federal 
Government as a result of their participation in benefit programs 
administered by VA. Once identified and located, VA will pursue 
collection of debts through voluntary payments. If such payments are 
not forthcoming, VA may request USPS to offset up to 15 percent of the 
employees' disposable pay as authorized under the provisions of the 
Debt Collection Act of 1982.
    The legal authority for undertaking this matching program is 
contained in the Debt Collection Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-365), 31 
U.S.C. Chapter 37, Subchapter I (General) and Subchapter II (Claims of 
the United States Government, 31 U.S.C. 3711 (Collection and 
Compromise) and 5 U.S.C. 5514 (Installment Deduction for Indebtedness). 
These statutes authorize Federal agencies to offset a Federal 
employee's salary as a means of satisfying delinquent debts owed the 
United States. VA and USPS have concluded an agreement to conduct the 
matching program pursuant to provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as 
amended (5 U.S.C. 552a(o)).
    USPS will act as the recipient (i.e., matching) agency. VA will 
provide a tape extract to USPS that contains the name and social 
security number (SSN) of each record subject. USPS will compare the 
tape extract against its database of employee records, establishing 
``hits'' (i.e., individuals common to both tapes) on the basis of 
matched SSN's. For each hit, USPS will disclose to VA the following 
information: name, SSN, home address and employee type (permanent or 
temporary).
    Records to be Matched: The systems of records maintained by the 
respective agencies from which records will be disclosed for the 
purpose of this computer match are as follows:
    USPS: Finance Records--Payroll System (USPS 050.020) containing 
records of approximately 700,000 employees. Disclosure will be made 
under routine use 24 of that system, a full description of which was 
last published at 57 FR 57515 (December 4, 1992).
    VA: (a) ``Compensation, Pension, Education and Rehabilitation 
Records--VA'' (58VA21/22) appearing at page 967 of the document 
entitled Privacy Act Issuances, 1991 Comp., Volume II. The exchange of 
data under this agreement is consistent with routine uses 9 and 12 of 
58VA21/22. (b) ``Loan Guaranty Home, Condominium and Manufactured Home 
Loan Applicant Records, Specially Adapted Housing Applicant Records and 
Vendee Loan Applicant Records--VA'' (55VA26), appearing at page 962 of 
the document entitled Privacy Act Issuances, 1991 Comp., Volume II. The 
exchange of data under this agreement is consistent with routine use 19 
of 55VA26. The debtor records actually used to perform the match are 
maintained in the Centralized Accounts Receivable System (CARS). CARS 
records, which number about 500,000, are a subset of those found in 
both Privacy Act systems of records listed above.
    The matching program is expected to begin on or about November 25, 
1994, and continue in effect for 18 months. Matching activity will 
begin no sooner than 30 days after publication of this notice or 40 
days after a report of this matching program has been provided to 
Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), whichever is 
later. The agreement governing the matching program and, thus, the 
matching program, may be extended an additional 12 months with the 
respective approval of VA's and USPS' Data Integrity Boards. Such 
extension must occur within three months prior to expiration of the 18-
month period set forth above and under the terms set forth in 5 U.S.C. 
552a(o)(2)(D).

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments, 
suggestions or objections regarding the proposal to conduct the 
matching program to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (271A), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20420. All written comments received will be available for public 
inspection only in the Veterans Service Unit at the above address, 
between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
holidays, until November 25, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Gottsacker, Debt Management Center (389/00A), U.S. Department of 
Veterans Affairs, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal 
Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111, (612) 725-1844.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information is required by the Privacy 
Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(12)).
    A copy of this notice has been provided to both Houses of Congress 
and OMB.

    Approved: October 17, 1994.
Jesse Brown,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-26558 Filed 10-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8310-01