[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 74291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31506]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
intends to continue a recurring computer matching program matching 
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) records with VA pension and 
parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records.
    The goal of this match is to compare income status as reported to 
VA with records maintained by OPM.
    VA plans to match records of veterans and surviving spouses and 
children who receive pension, and parents who receive DIC from VA with 
OPM benefit records maintained by OPM. The match with OPM will provide 
VA with data from OPM civil service benefit records.
    VA will use this information to update the master records of VA 
beneficiaries receiving income dependent benefits and to adjust VA 
benefit payments as prescribed by law. Otherwise, information about a 
VA beneficiary's receipt of OPM benefits is obtained from reporting by 
the beneficiary. The proposed matching program will enable VA to ensure 
accurate reporting of income.
    Records to be Matched: The VA records involved in the match are the 
VA system of records, VA Compensation, Pension and Education and 
Rehabilitation Records--VA (58 VA 21/22) first published at 41 FR 924 
(March 3, 1976), and last amended at 66 FR 47727 (September 13, 2001), 
with other amendments as cited therein. The OPM records involved in the 
match are from the OPM Civil Service Retirement Pay File identified as 
OPM Central-1, Civil Service Retirement and Insurance Records, 
published as 64 FR 54930, October 8, 1999, as amended May 3, 2000 (65 
FR 25775). In accordance with title 5 U.S.C. 552a(o)(2) and (r), copies 
of the agreement are being sent to both Houses of Congress and to the 
Office of Management and Budget.
    This notice is provided in accordance with the provisions of the 
Privacy Act of 1974 as amended by Public Law 100-503.
    The match will start no sooner than 30 days after publication of 
this Notice in the Federal Register, or 40 days after copies of this 
Notice and the agreement of the parties are submitted to Congress and 
the Office of Management and Budget, whichever is later, and end not 
more than 18 months after the agreement is properly implemented by the 
parties. The involved agencies' Data Integrity Boards (DIBs) may extend 
this match for 12 months provided the agencies certify to their DIBs, 
within three months of the ending date of the original match, that the 
matching program will be conducted without change and that the matching 
program has been conducted in compliance with the original matching 
program.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments, 
suggestions, or objections regarding the proposal to conduct the 
matching program to the Director, Regulations Management (00REG1), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Room 1068, 
Washington, DC 20420. All written comments received will be available 
for public inspection in the Office of Regulations Management, Room 
1063B, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, between 8 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Fridays except holidays. Please call 
(202) 273-9515 for an appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Trowbridge (212B), (202) 273-
7218.

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

    Approved: December 15, 2003.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-31506 Filed 12-22-03; 8:45 am]
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