The Social Security Number Protection Act (H.R. 1078) [pdf]

The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed legislation to protect Social Security numbers on Wednesday. The Social Security Number Protection Act (H.R. 1078) would give the Federal Trade Commission the authority to issue and enforce regulations restricting commercial sales and uses of the Social Security number to protect the public from identity thieves, stalkers and other criminals. FTC also would have the power to determine exemptions from the law and enforce compliance. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) sponsored the bill, which he said would help “reduce the incidence of pretexting crimes, identity thefts and other frauds or crimes involving misuse of a person’s Social Security number.” States would be able to bring civil actions under the bill.