Sam Johnson: Stop SSN Access in Prison Work Programs
Washington,
Jul 28 -
U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) introduced bipartisan legislation to ban prisoners from working in programs that give them access to Social Security numbers (SSN), the No Prisoner Access to Social Security Numbers Act of 2010, H.R. 5854. Currently prisoners in eight states – Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia – have access to SSNs as part of inmate work programs according to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
“Giving prisoners access to Social Security numbers defies common sense,” said Johnson, who serves as the Ranking Republican on the Social Security Subcommittee on the Ways and Means Committee. “This insane practice must stop!”
The Act would prohibit government entities from employing or entering into or maintaining a contract for the use of employment of prisoners in any capacity that allow access to Social Security numbers of others.
ID theft ranks as the number one consumer complaint and affects millions. According to a report, almost 5% of the population was a victim of ID theft in 2009, a 12% jump from 2008. In 2008, compromised SSNs were used in 38% of ID thefts.
Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Earl Pomeroy (At large-N.D.) introduced the legislation with Johnson.
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