[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 19 (Monday, May 15, 2006)]
[Pages 908-909]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Victims of Identity Theft

May 10, 2006

    Identity theft is a serious problem in America. I have just listened 
to the horror stories from fellow citizens who have had their identities 
stolen. I listened to their ideas about how the Federal Government can 
help in the response in not only dealing with those who commit the crime 
but helping those who have been victimized. And I want to thank you all 
for joining us. Thanks a lot.
    I appreciate Al Gonzales and Chairman Majoras, Deb Majoras, of the 
FTC for being here, because I just signed an Executive order that has 
the Attorney General as the Chairman, the Chairman of the FTC as the 
Vice-Chairman of a coordinating group to make sure that this Government 
of ours uses our assets in a responsible way, in a good way, to not only 
put those people who commit identity fraud in jail but to help the 
victims of identity fraud.
    I've signed two pieces of legislation which are important, one of 
which says that credit companies must issue a credit report once a year 
free of charge. We're very serious about upholding the law in this 
administration, and credit companies must look at the spirit and the 
letter of that law, so that when citizens ask for the free credit report 
on an annual basis, he or she should be given that free credit report.
    I signed law enhancing penalties. Now what we're going to do is make 
sure that the

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13 governmental agencies involved with identity theft have a well-
coordinated strategy to help the victims and to put those who commit the 
theft behind bars.
    Again, I want to thank you all very much for helping us understand 
the issues but, more importantly, telling a story of the emotions and 
the feelings that you went through during this--difficult periods of 
your life.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 2:27 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of 
these remarks.