May 24, 2006 Contact: Leslie Phillips (202) 224-2627 LIEBERMAN DEMANDS ANSWERS IN JOINT HEARING ON STOLEN VET DATA Vets Deserve Better Protection from the Government They Served   Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Joe Lieberrman, D-Conn., announced Wednesday that the Committee will hold a joint hearing with the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on the theft of millions of veterans’ names, birth dates, and social security numbers from the home of an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Lieberman expressed concerned about the risk posed to 300,000 Connecticut veterans and expected answers from the VA. “I am outraged that the identities of more than 26 million veterans – about 300,000 in Connecticut - have been put at risk because of a security lapse at a federal agency,” the Senator said. “I want to know why the VA employee took the information home, why it took the VA two weeks to notify the FBI of the theft, and what can be done to protect the veterans whose identity information has been put at risk.” The hearing will take place on May 25 at 10 a.m. in Washington D.C. VA Administrator Jim Nicholson will testify before the joint panel. The theft of computer equipment from the home of the VA employee “reminds us that the federal government has not done enough to protect the security of its computer systems and the voluminous amounts of personal data contained within those systems,” Lieberman said. He added, “I am particularly outraged that this security breach affects our veterans, who sacrifice so much for their country, and who deserve the best possible protection of their personal information.” The hearing is entitled, "VA Data Privacy Breach: Twenty-Six Million People Deserve Answers."   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 May 2006 Press Releases   May 31 - Lieberman Assails Homeland Security Grant Distribution   May 25 - Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Approves Nominees R. David Paulison and Lurita Alexis Doan   May 25 - Lieberman Warns of Active Hurricane Season in Northeast   May 25 - Lieberman Demands Answers about Information Theft   May 25 - Lieberman Calls for Second Extension of Unemplyoment Benefits for 2005 Hurricane Victims   May 25 - Homeland Security Committee to Vote on Nomination of R. David Paulison to Head FEMA   May 24 - Lieberman Celebrates Connecticut Hero at Stamp Unveiling   May 24 current Press Release   May 24 - Lieberman Says FEMA Recovery is Fraught with Problems   May 23 - Senator Lieberman's Statement on the Nomination of Lurita Alexis Doan for Administrator of the General Services Administration   May 23 - Lieberman Comments on Security Breach Against Veterans   May 17 - Senator Lieberman Delivers Statement at Robert Portman's Confirmation Hearing   May 17 - Lieberman Challenges OMB Nominee on Administration’s Fiscal Irresponsibility   May 11 - Senate and House Homeland Security Committees Stress Importance of Keeping FEMA Capabilities Within DHS   May 9 - Lieberman Seeks Probe Into HUD Secretary's Cancellation of Contract to Man Who Disliked Bush   May 9 - Senators Collins, Lieberman Say Emergency Response Must Be Part of DHS   May 8 - Lieberman Presses Norquist on Halliburton Redactions to DOD Audit of Iraqi Contracts   May 3 - Lieberman Calls House Bill Unworthy of Name "Reform"   May 2 - Hurricane Katrina Report and Recommendations Pass Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee   May 2 - Port Security Legislation Authored by Senators Collins, Murray and Lieberman Passes Homeland Security Committee   May 2 - Committee Responds to Senator Clinton's Request that FEMA Be Returned to an Independent Agency
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510