January 10, 2014

Social Security

Last year I filed legislation to prohibit the Social Security numbers of deceased individuals from being made publicly available through the Federal government’s Death Master File (DMF). The Social Security Administration publishes the DMF, which includes the full name, social security number, date of birth, county, state, and zip code of deceased individuals. It is updated regularly. For fees as small as $10, anyone can access the database. In a 2011 report to Congress, the IRS Taxpayer Advocate pointed out that easy access to the DMF is a major contributor to recent increases in tax related identity theft.

We made some progress with this last year when a provision limiting access to the DMF was included in the budget agreement that passed Congress in December. The provision strikes a balance by making it more difficult for potential identity thieves to access the DMF, while still maintaining access for those who legitimately need it. There is really no reason why the Social Security number of someone who has passed away should be available to anyone for a few dollars. The IRS has identified this as a problem and I am pleased that Congress is acting to close this loophole.

Cell Phones on Planes

Many of you may have spent time on an airplane during the holiday season, traveling to visit loved ones. Imagine if your seatmate spent the bulk of the flight talking on his or her cell phone. As a frequent traveler myself, I am very concerned about a recent announcement that federal agencies are considering allowing cell phone use during flights. An airplane is a confined space with no ability to move into another compartment or switch seats if someone is talking loudly and at length. Unlike trains, airlines cannot offer “quiet cabins”. We’ve all been in the presence of someone who is not considerate of others when engaging in conversation on a cell phone. That nuisance is significantly greater in a confined space. No one wants to be stuck sitting next to someone talking loudly on their phone for an hour or more when they have nowhere to go for some quiet. Checking email, texting or visiting websites is not the same as making a phone call. Those activities are far less intrusive and do not impose on other passengers. They are not currently allowed in flight either. I think easing restrictions on those activities while still prohibiting telephone calls is a good compromise. If you have questions or concerns about this proposed change, I strongly encourage you to express your opinion with the Department of Transportation. A number of different federal agencies are involved in this, but the Department of Transportation may have final say under its “Aviation Consumer Protection” authority. We have provided a link if you are interested: https://ntl.custhelp.com/app/ask

Recent Votes

The House convened this week for the second session of the 113th Congress. On Thursday the House considered H.R. 2279, Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act of 2013. H.R. 2279 combines three environmental bills that were considered in the Energy and Commerce Committee last year. It weakens the hazardous waste cleanup of Superfund sites by giving states rather than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority over this work. H.R. 2279 prohibits the EPA from establishing responsibility for payment of Superfund cleanup if states already have requirements in place. Currently the EPA requires companies at high risk of polluting to purchase insurance or post bonds so that funds are available in the event of contamination. H.R. 2279 eliminates that requirement. H.R. 2279 also eliminates an existing requirement that the EPA review the regulations covering hazardous waste every three years. It also takes away the EPA’s ability to quickly address any immediate contamination threats. Under H.R. 2279 the EPA must first consult with the state where the contamination has occurred before taking action. I voted NO. H.R. 2279 passed and the entire vote is recorded below:

On Friday the House considered H.R. 3811, the Exchange Security and Transparency Act. This legislation implies that the health care Marketplace websites are somehow riddled with security issues. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to notify a consumer within two business days of learning that their personal information has been stolen or subject to unauthorized viewing. No other government websites or private websites are subject to this requirement. Although H.R. 3811 is narrowly drawn to just impact the websites associated with the Affordable Care Act, the idea behind it has merit. Consumers should be alerted if their personal information is subject to a data breach. In fact, H.R. 3811 should be applied more broadly. I voted YES. H.R. 3811 passed and the entire vote is recorded below:

What’s Up Next Week

The House is expected to consider a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government. Next votes will take place on Monday January 13th.