[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 212 (Thursday, November 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27267]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: November 3, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Privacy Act of 1974; Internal Computer Matching Program
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)
proposes to conduct an internal computer matching program. The Veterans
Benefits Administration (VBA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Finance and Information Resources Management (FINANCE) are the
components responsible for managing the systems of records that will be
subject to the matching program. The purpose of the program is to
identify and locate VA 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, the debtors
may become subject to involuntary offset of their pay 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. VBA and FINANCE have concluded an agreement to conduct
the matching program pursuant to provisions of the Privacy Act of 1972,
as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a(o)).
VBA is the recipient component and will perform the computer match.
FINANCE will provide VBA with an abstract file from the Personnel
Accounting Integrated Data system (PAID). The records entered on this
abstract are limited to those employees who are identified as veterans
by an indicator in the original PAID record. Each PAID abstract record
includes the employee's full name, social security number and duty
station identifier. The records in the PAID abstract are, then, matched
to the Veterans and Beneficiaries Identification and Records Location
Subsystem (BIRLS) file by comparing social security numbers in both
PAID and BIRLS records. In those instances where a PAID abstract record
and a BIRLS record have identical social security numbers, the BIRLS
file number is entered on the abstract file. In many instances, the
file number will be the same as the employee's social security number.
After the abstract file is updated with file numbers from BIRLS, the
file is compared to the Centralized Accounts Receivable System (CARS)
file. In each instance where a file number from the PAID/BIRLS match is
identical to the file number in a CARS record, the CARS record will be
updated with the employee's duty station identifier.
If the abstract tape was not updated with the employee's file
number, the employee's social security number in the PAID abstract will
be compared to the CARS file number. If those numbers are an identical
match, the employee's CARS record will be updated with his or her duty
station identifier from the PAID abstract.
Records to be Matched: The systems of records maintained by the
respective components from which records will be disclosed for the
purpose of this computer match are as follows: FINANCE: Personnel
Accounting Integrated Data (PAID) Master Records in the Personnel and
Accounting Pay System-VA, 27VA047, which appears at page 942 of the
document entitled Privacy Act Issuances, 1991 Compilation, Volume II.
This system contains records of approximately 220,000 active VA
employees. VBA: (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. (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. (c) Veterans and
Beneficiaries Identification and Records Location Subsystem-VA (BIRLS),
38VA23, which appears at page 952 of the document entitled Privacy Act
Issuances, 1991 Compilation, Volume II. Exchange of data pursuant to
this matching program is consistent with 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(1) and 38
U.S.C. 5701(b)(6). The debtor records actually used to perform the
match are maintained in the Centralized Accounts Receivable System
(CARS). CARS records, which number about 414,000, are a subset of those
found in Privacy Act system of records 58VA21/22. In some instances,
data in an individual's record in the Privacy Act system of records
58VA21/22 include certain data extracted from the same individual's
record maintained under 55VA26. This would occur, for instance, where
an individual has a delinquent debt as the result of his or her
participation in the VA loan guaranty program.
The matching program is expected to begin on or about December 5,
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 is 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
approval of VA's Data Integrity Board. 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 December 5, 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 26, 1994.
Jesse Brown,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-27267 Filed 11-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M