U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard Introduces Amendment to 9/11 Commission Bill to Help Curb Identity Theft (March 7, 2007)

Washington, D.C. ­ U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) recently proposed an amendment to the 9/11 Commission bill to help curb identity theft by allowing information sharing between the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security related to the fraudulent use of names and Social Security Numbers in connection with employment. Allard recently introduced similar language as a separate bill last week.

>"We have a rampant problem of identity theft in this country. Identity theft not only affects innocent victims; it poses a security threat to our country," Allard said. "As the 9/11 Commission put it, ‘Fraud in identification documents is no longer just a problem of theft.’"

"My amendment tears down the wall that prevents the sharing of existing information among government agencies. It seems logical that we would already be sharing information when a Social Security Number is believed to be used fraudulently, but we are not. In the meantime, identity theft is plaguing innocent victims all across the country," said Allard. "Unfortunately, for the victims of identity theft, by the time it has been discovered, the damage has already been done."

The amendment requires the Commissioner of Social Security to provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with information in cases where a social security number is used with multiple names or in cases where there is more than one person reporting earnings for a particular name and Social Security Number. It permits the Commissioner of Social Security to share information with the Secretary of Homeland Security, where such information is likely to assist in discovering identity theft, social security number misuse or violations of immigration law.

"When the Social Security Administration has reason to believe that a Social Security Number is being used fraudulently, they are prevented from sharing it with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Withholding this information effectively enables thieves to continue to perpetrate the crime of identity theft against innocent victims," Allard said.

"Colorado residents are no strangers to identity theft, as the state ranks fifth in the nation for cases of identity theft. By simply sharing information, cases of identity theft could be discovered much more quickly," said Allard. "Victims of identity theft deserve to have this information acted upon, and my amendment allows this."

Allard’s amendment is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Troopers’ Coalition and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.