[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 147 (Tuesday, August 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43560-43561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12258]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of a computer-matching program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of 
1974, as amended, (5 U.S.C. 552a) this notice announces that the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), recipient agency, intends to 
conduct a recurring computer-matching program with the Railroad 
Retirement Board (RRB), source agency.
    VA will match pension and parents' dependency and indemnity 
compensation (DIC) records with RRB recipient records. The goal of this 
match is to compare income status as reported to VA with benefit 
records maintained by RRB. The authority to conduct this match is 38 
U.S.C. 5106.

DATES: VA will file a report of the subject matching agreement with the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 
the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of 
Representatives, and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OBM). The matching program will be 
effective as indicated in this notice.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by: mail or hand-delivery 
to Director, Regulations Management (00REG1), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; fax 
to (202) 273-9026; or e-mail to [email protected].
    All comments received will be available for public inspection in 
the Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Room 1063B, between the 
hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays). 
Please call (202) 273-9515 for an appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Liverman (212A), (757) 858-
6148, ext. 107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to subsection (o) of the Privacy 
Act of 1974, as amended, (5 U.S.C. 552a), the RRB and VA have 
determined that a computer matching agreement is the most cost 
effective and efficient way to verify statements of applicants and 
recipients.
    VA has an obligation to verify the income information submitted by 
individuals in receipt of income-dependent benefits. Title 38 U.S.C. 
5106 requires that Federal agencies disclose this information to VA 
upon request. By comparing the information received through the 
matching program between VA and RRB on a recurring basis, VA will be 
able to make timely and more accurate adjustments in the benefits 
payable.

A. Participating Agencies

    The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board and the U.S. Department of 
Veterans Affairs.

B. Purpose of the Match

    The purpose of the matching agreement is to identify beneficiaries 
receiving VA income dependent benefits and RRB benefits, to update VA's 
master records and adjust VA income dependent benefit payments as 
prescribed by law. This agreement reflects both agencies' 
responsibilities under the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the 
regulations promulgated.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The authority to conduct this match is 38 U.S.C. 5106.

D. Records To Be Matched

    The VA records involved in the match are the VA system of records, 
Compensation, Pension and Education and Rehabilitation Records--VA (58 
VA 21/22), first published at 41 FR 9294 (March 3, 1976), and last 
amended at 70 FR 34186 (June 13, 2005), with other amendments as cited 
therein.
    The RRB records consist of information from the Railroad 
Retirement, Survivor, and Pensioner Benefit System, RRB-22, contained 
in the Privacy Act Issuances, 2001 Compilation Online via GPO Access.

E. Description of Computer Matching Program

    The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to match records of 
veterans and surviving spouses and children who receive pension, and 
parents who receive DIC, with Railroad Retirement benefit records 
maintained by RRB. The match with RRB will provide VA with data from 
the RRB Research File of Retirement and Survivor Benefits.
    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 income is obtained only from reporting by the 
beneficiary. The proposed matching program will enable VA to ensure 
accurate reporting of income.
    VA will provide RRB with a tape, which contains the names, VA claim 
numbers, social security numbers, verification codes and VA regional 
office identifiers. RRB will return a tape to VA, which contains 
information on RRB payment amounts in RRB's records.

F. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    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 is 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 (DIB) 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.
    This computer-matching program is subject to public comment and 
review

[[Page 43561]]

by Congress and the Office of Management and Budget. In accordance with 
Title 5 U.S.C. subsection 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.

    Approved: July 14, 2006.
Gordon H. Mansfield,
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E6-12258 Filed 7-31-06; 8:45 am]
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