"CoPIRG
commends Congressional privacy leaders and the Administration for
insisting on removing Senator Judd Gregg's (R-NH) controversial
provision named for an Internet stalking victim from the final
Congressional Appropriations package passed last Friday. The Amy Boyer
Law actually expanded, instead of narrowed, the availability of Social
Security Numbers to private detectives and other users."
Last
year, New Hampshire resident Amy Boyer was killed by a stalker who
found her on the Internet. The proposal was introduced at her parents'
request to restrict the availability of Social Security Numbers on the
Internet. Unfortunately, companies that traffic in confidential
personal information gutted the bill with numerous exceptions and
loopholes that would have not only rendered its protections meaningless
but actually expanded commercial availability of SSNs. Earlier versions
of this Trojan Horse proposal would have also preempted stronger state
Social Security Number protections.
The
proposal was opposed by a spectrum of privacy and consumer
organizations. We commend members of the bi-partisan Privacy Caucus
chaired by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) for
their leadership in opposing the proposal, which was also strongly
opposed by the leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee, including
Chairman Archer (R-TX), Subcommittee Chairman Shaw (R-FL), and Rep.
Kleckza (D-WI) and others, which had passed out of committee a stronger
alternative proposal to protect Social Security Numbers, HR 4857. Other
opponents of the Amy Boyer Law included Sens. Feinstein (D-CA), Roth
(R-DE), and Sarbanes (D-MD). The administration was steadfast in its
opposition, and sent a strong veto threat letter to Congress.
For more information on the Amy Boyer Law and other financial privacy issues, see www.pirg.org/consumer.
Detailed Legislative History:
Senator Gregg (NH) introduced the Amy Boyer Law as a free-standing bill
-- S. 2554. He then incorporated it into Commerce-Justice-State
Appropriations (originally as Section 626 of HR 4690, then it became
Section 635 of HR 5548). Then, HR 5548 (still containing the Amy Boyer
Law) was sent to the President 15 Dec 00 as part of HR 4942. However,
on 15 December 00, Congress also passed the Conference Report on HR
4577. Section 213 of HR 4577 amends HR 5548 by deleting a number of
sections of HR 5548. Section 213(a)(6) of HR 4577 strikes the Amy Boyer
Law (Section 635 of HR 5548). See page H12261 of the Congressional
Record for 15 Dec 00.
