Congressmen Lane Evans ,Bob Filner Responds to lastest Investigation of Data Theft involving the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Aug 7th 2006 contact David Tucker @ 202-225-9756
Rock Island,Il Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL.),Ranking Democrat on House Committee on Veterans Affairs,today called for prompt action by House of Representatives to pass H.R.5835,the Veterans Idenitity and Security Act of 2006." This measure was approved by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on July 20,2006.
"Today's announcement by the V.A. that sensitive personal information of veterans was compromised again by a VA subcontractor last week confirms the VA must move quickly to protect the information it maintains on veterans and their families.It provides us with yet another wake up call. Congress must act to provide VA and veterans with the means to protect veterans'personal information once that information is compromised. Passing H.R. 5835, which I have co-sponsored,should be first item of business when Congress returns in September."
Evans noted that idenitiy theft is a growing problem faced by all Americans."Veterans have defended us, now is the time that we step forward and protect them from this growing problem" (Not Bad for a Sick Vet Huh)
http://veterans.house.gov/...
Washington D.C - Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA) Acting Ranking Democratic Member of the House Committee on Veterans'Affairs, expressed his concern over the latest data theft involving the Department of Veterans Affairs.
According to the VA ,the sensitive personal information of Pennsylvania veterans was compromised last week by a VA subcontractor.The data was on a desktop computer which disappeared from a secure area of a Washington ,D.C. area company.
"Although I applaud the VA's timely (A WEEK YA RIGHT) notice regarding this tragic event,I believe that this latest revelation highlights once again why it is important that H.R.5835,the Veterans Identity and Security Act of 2006,be speedily adopted by the House of Representatives when Congress reconvenes in September.When veterans are harmed as the result of government action or in-action,remedies must be provided by the federal government"
H.R.5835,co-sponsored by Congressman Filner,addresses internal VA management of information technology, mandates speedy notification in the event that senitive personal information of veterans is compromised,and provide veterans with the tools they need to protect their credit.The bill also puts in place additional protections such as free credit reports, fraud resolution services,and identity theft insurance whenever there is a reasonable chance of the misuse of veterans' information.The bill provides remedies for veterans whose data is lost by VA data breaches and those of VA contractors and subcontractors as occurred last week.
"We must do everything we can to ensure that the VA protects the sensitive personal information of our nation's veterans and we must do everything we can to assist veterans and their families if the VA fails them. The Committee on Veterans'Affairs has held hearing after hearing exploring the VA's failures to safeguard sensitive data and the steps we should take as elected officails to fix this growing problem. Now is the time to take action!"concluded Congressman Filner.
Now I called J.Dennis Hastert Washington Office today and was told "The President has said we do not need this Bill"
The replugs care less about Veterans and You.
http://www.john06.com
http://veterans.house.gov/...