Representative introduces bill to limit use of SS#

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Ron Paul (Texas) has introduced a bill to protect the integrity and confidentiality of Social Security account numbers, and to prohibit the establishment in the Federal Government of any uniform national identifying number. The bill, entitled "Privacy Protection Act of 1997" (H.R. 3261) would remove the permissive provisions in federal law which allow agencies to use social security numbers for purposes other than Social Security reporting and benefits administration. And it expressly prohibits the number from being used for universal identification.

In remarks on Feb. 25, Paul stated, "The Social Security number was created solely for use in administering the Social Security system. However, today the Social Security number is used as an identifier for numerous federal programs. Unless the use of the Social Security number is restricted, it will soon become a national identification number by which the federal government can easily keep track of all vital information regarding American citizens."

He stated that anyone who doubts that we are moving toward using the Social Security number as an universal identifier need only consult 1996's welfare reform bill, which forces business to report the Social Secur ity number of every new employee to the federal government so it may be recorded in a national data base.

"Since the creation of the Social Security number in 1934 there have been almost 40 congressionally-authorized uses of the Social Security number as an identification number for non-Social Security programs," Paul said. He added that abuse of the Social Security system also occurs in many states. "One cannot get a driver's license, apply for a job, or even receive a birth certificate for one's child, without presenting their Social Security number to a government official," he said.

"Perhaps the most disturbing abuses of the Social Security number is the Congressionally-authorized rule forcing parents to get a Social Security number for their newborn children in order to claim them as a dependent," Paul said.
"Unless the abuses of the Social Security number is stopped, Americans will soon have a defacto national identification number, which would provide the federal government the ability to track all citizens from cradle to grave," he said.
Contact your Representative about this bill.