U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Introduces Bipartisan Reform to Protect Veterans from Identity Theft

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today introduced a bipartisan reform to protect veterans from potential identity theft. The Veterans’ Identity Theft Protection Act, cosponsored by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to stop using Social Security account numbers to identify individuals in all information systems used by the VA.

A news investigation in Wisconsin revealed that the Social Security numbers of hundreds of Wisconsin veterans were sent to an unauthorized person last year. This unintended disclosure of personal information put veterans and their families at risk for fraud and identity theft.

“This can’t happen. Our veterans should never be put at risk of identity theft with information that they have entrusted to the VA,” said Senator Baldwin. “That is why I am bringing this bipartisan solution forward to make certain that the VA stops using Social Security numbers to identify our veterans.”

Senator Baldwin’s Veterans’ Identity Theft Protection Act would require the VA to discontinue using Social Security account numbers to identify individuals in all information systems used by the VA. This would be applied to veterans with new claims for benefits within two years, and for all other veterans already in VA systems within five years. The VA would still be allowed to use SSNs if it needs to transfer information to or from another system outside of the VA that requires the use of those identifiers.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Recent Press Releases by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Baldwin Calls Out Trump Undermining Small Business Owners, Demands Admin Release Report on Proposed Cuts to the Bipartisan MBDA

Mar 26th, 2025 by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Baldwin and Republican colleagues helped make Minority Business Development Center permanent to help entrepreneurs, create jobs, and grow economy

Baldwin Demands Answers Over Trump Admin Illegally Cancelling Grants to Train and Retain Quality Teachers

Mar 25th, 2025 by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Cuts hit Wisconsin program to address special education teacher shortage in Milwaukee schools

Baldwin Presses USDA to Reverse $1 Billion in Canceled Local Food Purchases for Farmers, Schools & Food Banks

Mar 24th, 2025 by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin