Social Security Child Protection Act of 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 1512, the Social Security Child Protection Act, which was introduced jointly by Representatives Kenny Marchant and Lloyd Doggett, both of Texas. I note that my colleague, Mr. Johnson, is also in the House. This means that Texas is serious about children and protecting them. This bipartisan legislation would protect children in cases where their Social Security card is stolen from the mail.

Most parents apply for a Social Security number for their child soon after the baby is born. They can do this easily and securely right in the hospital. The Social Security Administration then assigns a number to the child and mails the card to the child's family.

Unfortunately, sometimes these letters do not reach their intended destination. They can be stolen from the mail. In fact, the Social Security numbers of children are highly valued by identity thieves. Fraudsters can wreak havoc, creating an extensive record of bad debt and fraud associated with a child's number.

Currently, Social Security will issue a new number to anyone, child or adult, who can show that their number has been misused and that they have been harmed. However, in the case of a child, sometimes years go by before the family learns that a child's number has been used for fraud.

Under the bill, the Social Security Administration would issue a child a new Social Security number if their card is stolen from the mail. The family would no longer have to prove that harm has occurred before the child can be issued a new number.

Madam Speaker, this is a commonsense measure, and I want to commend Mr. Marchant for thinking it up, thinking of it and responding to a need that was expressed to him by one of his constituents. It is a great measure. I am pleased to support it, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

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