[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 161 (Wednesday, August 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44304-44305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22007]


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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

[[Page 44305]]

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 (15 U.S.C. 552a(o)). USPS will act as 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 800,000 employees. Disclosure will be made 
under routine use of 24 of that system, a full description of which was 
last published at 57 FR 57515 (December 4, 1992).
    VA: Accounts Receivable Records--VA (88VA20A6) containing records 
of approximately 300,000 debtors. Disclosure will be made under routine 
use No. 7 of that system, a full description of which was last 
published in 61 FR 60148 on November 26, 1996.
    The matching program is expected to begin on or about September 19, 
1997, and continue in effect for 18 months. 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 Director, Office of Regulations Management 
(02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, room 
1154, Washington, DC 20420. All relevant material received before 
September 19, 1997, will be considered. All written comments received 
will be available for public inspection in the Office of Regulations 
Management, Room 1158, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, 
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Fridays, except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Gottsacker, Debt Management Center (389/00A), 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: August 5, 1997.
Hershel Gober,
Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-22007 Filed 8-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M