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Shays Calls for Answers
on Theft of Veterans' Personal Information
Washington, D.C. –Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT)
today called for answers from Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) Inspector General George Opfer on the purpose and extent
of the veterans’ data recently reported lost by the
VA.
In a letter to Mr. Opfer, Shays wrote: “We are writing
to express our concern about the recent theft of names, Social
Security numbers, dates of birth and in some cases, disability
ratings of an estimated 26.5 million veterans and their spouses.
While we are encouraged your office has launched an investigation
into this very serious security breach, we are troubled by
the fact that there are reports indicating your office has
previously expressed concern regarding information security
at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).”
As Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging
Threats, and International Relations, Shays has oversight
of the VA and is also a member of the Financial Services Committee,
which deals extensively with the issue of identity theft.
Tomorrow, Shays will attend a Financial Services Committee
markup of H.R. 4127, the Data Accountability and Trust Act.
The bill requires any entity which owns or possesses personal
data in electronic form -- including federal agencies -- to
implement security policies to protect that information.
Shays cosponsored and voted for H.R. 3997, the Financial
Data Protection Act, which creates strong national data safeguard
standards for all businesses that possess or maintain sensitive
financial account or identity information about consumers
and requires customer notification in cases where the breach
may result in identity theft. The bill passed the Financial
Services Committee on March 16, 2006.
Shays also supported H.R. 858, the Identity Theft Penalty
Enhancement Act, which was signed into law by the President
on July 15, 2004. It defines and establishes penalties for
aggravated identity theft, makes changes to existing identity
theft laws and authorizes $2 million the Justice Department
to investigate and prosecute identity theft and related credit
card and other felony fraud cases
The VA has set up a manned call center that veterans may
call to get information about this situation and learn more
about consumer identity protections. That toll-free number
is 1-800-FED INFO (333-4636). The call center will operate
from 8 am to 9 pm (EDT), Monday-Saturday as long as it is
needed.
Shays’ full letter follows:
We are writing to express our concern about the recent theft
of names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and in some
cases, disability ratings of an estimated 26.5 million veterans
and their spouses.
While we are encouraged your office has launched an investigation
into this very serious security breach, we are troubled by
the fact that there are reports indicating your office has
previously expressed concern regarding information security
at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
We request the Subcommittee be kept apprised of the investigation’s
progress and receive copies of any reports and testimony provided
to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees.
State veterans affairs commissioners, such as Connecticut
Commissioner Linda Schwartz, have also expressed strong concern
about this incident. Specifically, Commissioner Schwartz raises
several important questions including:
- Since fewer than the publicly-cited number of 26.5 million
veterans actually use the VA, how is it the VA has in its
possession the Social Security numbers of so many veterans?
- Why was such data compiled on so many veterans?
- Social Security numbers were not used as military identification
until 1969. Why would the VA have Social Security numbers
of World War II and Korean veterans and how are those numbers
being used?
I would appreciate an update on your investigation and a
response to Commissioner Schwartz's questions at your earliest
convenience, but no later than June 16, 2006.
Click here to read a statement
from the VA.
Click here for Frequently Asked
Questions on VA's Letter to Veterans.
Contact: Sarah Moore, 202/225-5541
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