FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 27, 2006

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider

Pelosi, House Democrats Urge Speaker to Protect Veterans From Identity Theft

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congressman John Salazar of Colorado, and senior House Democrats sent Speaker Hastert a letter yesterday urging him to bring comprehensive legislation sponsored by Congressman Salazar and more than 100 House Democrats to the House floor this week that would protect veterans from identity theft.  Last month, the sensitive personal data of 26.5 million veterans was stolen from the Department of Veterans Affairs, leaving them vulnerable to identity theft and other harm.

The text of the letter follows:

June 27, 2006

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker

United States House of Representatives

U.S. Capitol

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker:

It has been more than one month since the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disclosed the theft of a laptop containing the personal information of 26.5 million veterans, including 2.2 million active duty military personnel.  Since that time, numerous hearings have been held in an attempt to better grasp the circumstances surrounding the theft, but little action has been taken to safeguard the personal information of millions of brave men and women in uniform who have served our nation.

We write to urge you to bring the Comprehensive Veterans’ Data Protection and Identity Theft Prevention Act (H.R. 5588), sponsored by Congressman John Salazar and more than 100 House Democrats, to the floor of the House of Representatives this week to protect these individuals from identity theft.  Thiscomprehensive legislation would protect veterans from identity theft and other harm, with a year of free credit monitoring, an additional free credit report in the second and third years, one year free fraud alert, and a free credit security freeze.  It would also create an Ombudsman for Data Security at the VA charged with assisting veterans who are the victims of a data breach and/or identity theft.

Mr. Speaker, time is of the essence as we approach the July 4th recess.  The personal information of millions of veterans is at risk and the Department of Veterans Affairs and Congress have failed to act in a comprehensive manner to protect them.  We urge you to bring H.R. 5588 to the floor at the earliest opportunity this week.

Sincerely,

Nancy Pelosi                                               Steny Hoyer

House Democratic Leader                           House Democratic Whip

James E. Clyburn                                        John B. Larson

House Democratic Caucus Chair                 House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair

Lane Evans                                                  John Salazar

Ranking Member                                         Member

Veterans’ Affairs Committee                        Veterans’ Affairs Committee

John Dingell                                                 John Conyers

Ranking Member                                         Ranking Member

Energy and Commerce Committee               Judiciary Committee

Henry Waxman                                           Ike Skelton

Ranking Member                                         Ranking Member

Government Reform Committee                   Armed Services Committee

Barney Frank

Ranking Member

Financial Services Committee

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi