Valadao introduces bipartisan bill to curb identity theft stemming from government documents

Use of Social Security numbers on government documents sent by mail would be reduced to help prevent identity fraud under bipartisan legislation recently reintroduced by U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-CA).

The Social Security Fraud Prevention Act, H.R. 624, would identify specific instances in which an individual’s full Social Security number could be printed on a government-issued document.

Social Security numbers would have to be partially redacted or completely removed from government documents in other situations.

“Our federal government should be working to protect our nation’s veterans and children, not actively contributing to the occurrence of this crime.” Valadao said. “I am proud to introduce this commonsense legislation to remove Social Security numbers from government documents when they aren’t necessary.”

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), who introduced companion legislation in the Senate, said identity theft continues to rise at “an alarming rate” and remains one of the top reported consumer scams.

“The Social Security Fraud and Prevention Act aims to mitigate the threat of identity theft by reducing the number of government-issued documents that contain full Social Security numbers,” Gardner said. “It strengthens protections against fraud for all Americans, and I thank Congressman Valadao for his leadership on this commonsense bill.”

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), the lead Democratic cosponsor of the bill, called identity theft an ever-growing problem, affecting millions of Americans every year.

“The Social Security Fraud Prevention Act aims to protect many Americans’ financial security, and I’m pleased to join Congressman Valadao in this important effort,” Swalwell said.