An act to restrict the inclusion of social security account numbers on Federal documents sent by mail, and for other purposes
PL 115-59 (H.R.624), enacted 09/15/2017

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 secu-
rity 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 inclu-
sion 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 identifica-
tion 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] 
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131 STAT. 1153 
PUBLIC LAW 115–59—SEPT. 15, 2017 
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. 
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 Representa-
tives, 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. 
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