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Committee on Ways and Means
Subcommittee on Social Security

For Immediate Release
Contact: Press Office 202-225-8933
April 24, 2002

WASHINGTON- Next week both lawmakers and citizens will come together to discuss the need to better safeguard Americans’ Social Security Numbers (SSNs). Chairman Clay Shaw (R-FL), of the Social Security Subcommittee, is holding this field hearing to highlight the vulnerability of SSNs and explore legislative means to better protect them from identity theft.

The hearing will examine the obstacles law enforcement face, the misuse of SSNs and the impact of legislative proposals aimed at combating SSN theft. A victim who has had to cope with the aftermath of getting her identity back will testify to the challenges she faced.

As more Americans use SSNs for financial and credit purposes, their risk of becoming a victim of identity theft increases. Today, nearly 700,000 Americans are faced with the terrifying reality of losing their identity to a criminal. The tragic events of September 11 have only intensified the need to strengthen privacy safeguards. Obtaining SSNs to falsify documents and steal identities is becoming far too easy. Enhancing the privacy of SSNs is crucial to protecting all Americans from the identity thieves who would use that information to commit fraud and engage in terrorism.

“Although never created to be a personal identifier, the use of Social Security numbers is now pervasive throughout our automated society. As highlighted by the September 11 attacks, these numbers are far too easily used by criminals and terrorists to steal identities and obtain false documents,” Chairman Clay Shaw (R-FL) said. “Collectively, as a nation, we now understand how SSN misuse helps facilitate terror. We must take whatever steps we can to protect the privacy of Americans’ Social Security numbers. It’s the right thing to do and a necessary step in our nation’s response to terrorism.”