“H.R. 3784 will streamline the process of addressing concerns with lost or stolen Social Security numbers by reducing the burden on victims and ensuring a more efficient resolution of their issues.”

As prepared for delivery.

“I rise today in support of H.R. 3784, the Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act.

“In 2022 alone, there were over a thousand data breaches which exposed the private data, such as names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of millions of Americans, putting their identities and financial well being at risk. We all know someone who has been a victim of identity theft, and we have seen how difficult and time consuming it is for those individuals to take back control of their credit and financial wellbeing. 

“The longer it takes to resolve an issue like the loss or theft of a Social Security number, the longer fraudsters have to compromise or exploit an individual’s identity. 

“This Congress, the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing that underlined exactly why this bill is needed. We heard from Margaret, a new mother who testified about her 9-month-old daughter’s Social Security number being compromised and the stress associated with such a situation. 

“She testified that having a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration to talk to about her case would have made a world of difference. And that’s exactly what this bill does. 

“H.R. 3784 will streamline the process of addressing concerns with lost or stolen Social Security numbers by reducing the burden on victims and ensuring a more efficient resolution of their issues. I want to thank my colleagues, Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Drew Ferguson, and Ranking Member John Larson for their bipartisan work on this bill. 

“I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.”