H.R.3046: Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2007 (introduced in House)

House Resolution 3046 would provide new safeguards for the use of Social Security numbers (SSNs) and penalties for SSN misuse. The bill would:

• Bar the sale, purchase or display of the SSN in both the public and private sectors with certain exceptions;
• Prohibit the display of SSNs (including magnetic strips or bar codes that contain them) on government checks, employer-issued identification cards or tags, and Medicare cards;
• Require government and private entities to limit access to SSNs and assure that they have safeguards to prevent breaches of confidentiality;
• Require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to study the effectiveness of regulations related to this bill and the feasibility of additional safeguards; and
• Create or expand civil and criminal penalties for SSN misuse.

There currently are 53 cosponsors to this bill, including Minnesota’s Rep. Betty McCollum. Encourage your representative to support H.R. 3046 in this new year, so your Medicare cards won’t proclaim your SSN to all the world!