131 STAT. 1152 PUBLIC LAW 115–59—SEPT. 15, 2017 

Public Law 115–59 

115th Congress 

An Act 

To restrict the inclusion of social security account numbers on Federal documents 

sent by mail, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Social Security Number Fraud 

Prevention Act of 2017’’. 

SEC. 2. RESTRICTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS ON DOCUMENTS 

SENT BY MAIL. 

(a) RESTRICTION.—An agency may not include the social security account number of an individual on any document sent by 

mail unless the head of the agency determines that the inclusion 

of the social security account number on the document is necessary. 

(b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 5 years after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the head of each CFO Act agency shall 

issue regulations specifying the circumstances under which inclusion of a social security account number on a document sent by 

mail is necessary. Such regulations shall include— 

(1) instructions for the partial redaction of social security 

account numbers where feasible; and 

(2) a requirement that social security account numbers 

not be visible on the outside of any package sent by mail. 

(c) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, and not later than the first, second, third, 

fourth, and fifth-year anniversary of such date of enactment, the 

head of each CFO Act agency shall submit to the Committee on 

Ways and Means and the Committee on Oversight and Government 

Reform of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Finance 

and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs of the Senate, and any other appropriate authorizing 

committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, a 

report on the implementation of subsection (a) that includes the 

following: 

(1) The title and identification number of any document 

used by the CFO Act agency during the previous year that 

includes the complete social security account number of an 

individual. 

(2) For the first report submitted, a plan that describes 

how the CFO Act agency will comply with the requirements 

of subsection (a). 

(3) For the final report submitted, the title and identification number of each document used by the CFO Act agency 

Plan. 

Deadline. 

Determination. 

Social Security 

Number Fraud 

Prevention Act 

of 2017. 

42 USC 405 note. 

Sept. 15, 2017 

[H.R. 624] 


dkrause on DSKBC28HB2PROD with PUBLAWS
PUBLIC LAW 115–59—SEPT. 15, 2017 131 STAT. 1153 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 624: 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–150, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Oversight and Government 

Reform). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017): 

May 24, considered and passed House. 

Sept. 6, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

for which the head of the agency has determined, in accordance 

with regulations issued pursuant to subsection (b), that the 

inclusion of a social security account number on such document 

is necessary, and the rationale for such determination. 

(4) For any other report that is not the first or final 

report submitted, an update on the implementation of the plan 

described under paragraph (2). 

(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the meaning given 

that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code, but 

includes an establishment in the legislative or judicial branch 

of the Government (except the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Architect of the Capitol, and any activities under 

the direction of the Architect of the Capitol). 

(2) CFO ACT AGENCY.—The term ‘‘CFO Act agency’’ means 

the agencies listed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 901(b) 

of title 31, United States Code. 

(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (a) shall apply with respect 

to any document sent by mail on or after the date that is 5 

years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Approved September 15, 2017. 

Update. 


dkrause on DSKBC28HB2PROD with PUBLAWS