I 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4846 
To reduce the risk of identity theft by limiting the use of Social Security 
account numbers on certain Government-issued identification cards and 
Government documents. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 15, 2004 
Ms. GRANGER (for herself, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. GILLMOR, Mr. PAUL, Ms. HAR-
RIS, and Mr. CALVERT) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees 
on Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, and Veterans’ Affairs, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To reduce the risk of identity theft by limiting the use 
of Social Security account numbers on certain Govern-
ment-issued identification cards and Government docu-
ments. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Social Security Num-
ber Privacy and Protection Act of 2004’’.
SEC. 2. ALTERATION OF SELECTIVE SERVICE REMINDER 
MAILBACK CARD TO REDUCE RISK OF THEFT 
OF SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBERS. 
Not later than two years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Director of Selective Service shall 
alter the form of the Selective Service reminder mailback 
card, or the method by which the card is submitted to 
the Selective Service System, to reduce the risk of theft 
of social security account numbers included as part of the 
identifying information required from persons presenting 
themselves for registration under the Military Selective 
Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.). 
SEC. 3. ELIMINATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUM-
BER FROM MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND SCHIP 
IDENTIFICATION CARDS. 
(a) MEDICARE.—Section 1874 of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395kk) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) Any individual identification or similar card 
issued to carry out this title shall not contain the social 
security account number of any individual, but may con-
tain another identification number or code as the Sec-
retary may specify. Nothing in this subsection shall be 
construed as preventing the use of social security account 
numbers for claims or other purposes under this title.’’.
(b) MEDICAID.—Section 1902(a)(48) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 1396a(a)(48)) is amended by inserting before the 
semicolon at the end the following: ‘‘and in issuing any 
individual identification card to carry out this title, pro-
vide that the card shall not contain the social security ac-
count number of any individual (but may contain another 
identification number or code as the State may specify)’’. 
(c) SCHIP.—Section 2102(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1397bb(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) 
RESTRICTIONS
ON
IDENTIFICATION 
CARDS.—Any individual identification or similar 
card issued to carry out this title shall not contain 
the social security account number of any individual 
(including a family member) but may contain an-
other identification number or code as the State may 
specify. Nothing in this paragraph shall be con-
strued as preventing the use of social security ac-
count numbers for claims or other purposes under 
this title.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and shall apply to individual identi-
fication cards issued on or after such effective date.
SEC. 4. ELIMINATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUM-
BER FROM VETERANS HEALTH CARE IDENTI-
FICATION CARDS ISSUED BY THE DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 73 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 7334 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 7335. Prohibition on use of social security account 
number on health care identification 
cards 
‘‘In issuing individual identification cards (or similar 
cards) for purposes of management of health care benefits 
under chapter 17 of this title, the Secretary shall provide 
that any such card that is issued after the end of the two- 
year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
section shall not contain the social security account num-
ber of any individual (including a family member).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 7344 the following new 
item: 
‘‘7355. Prohibition on use of social security account number on health care iden-
tification cards.’’.
SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING REMOVAL OF SO-
CIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBERS FROM 
IDENTIFICATION AND CLAIMS CARDS USED 
BY HEALTH INSURERS. 
It is the sense of Congress that health insurers should 
not use social security account numbers on insurance iden-
tification or claims cards issued to beneficiaries, but 
should substitute another identification code or number 
instead. 
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