Since 1980, Social Security has been required to publicly make available Americans' personal information through the so-called Death Master File.

Identity theft affects swindled businesses, American taxpayers and grieving families.

You must release data of certain profile, unless Congress has provided you with an exception.

No, I kind of agree with you on that.

Well, thank you. We are really pleased that you have raised this issue, and that you have bipartisan support. And we are looking forward to working with you on the issue.

Fixing the death data system to protect both the living and dead from identity theft, and to allow the agency to go on with its important business, is Congress's responsibility, in my view.

It is a continuous problem that can't be solved right now, but needs to be addressed, certainly.

U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security announced today that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the accuracy and uses of the Social Security…

Americans deserve better so I introduced H.R. 3475, the 'Keeping IDs Safe Act of 2011,' a bill that would stop Social Security from making this information public.

You know that it is a problem now, and you know that we need action.

Thank you, sir. I appreciate your testimony.

It seems to me if Commerce is selling it, they ought to be responsible for it, or the States, not Social Security.

Yes. So each State is different, is it not?

I do believe that Congress should start with the proposition that we should not be releasing this information, except for very specific purposes that the Congress has thought hard about, with protections for the public so that the Federal…

Waste, fraud, and abuse in the disability insurance program cheat honest, hardworking American taxpayers.

U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, today announced a hearing on combatting disability waste, fraud and abuse.

We visited a Wal-Mart down in Texas that had disability workers as part of their program.

I appreciate you all being here.

I look forward to being briefed by your staff and holding a future hearing on this.

Thank you, sir. Keep up the good work.

Presidential candidate Jon Huntsman in his financial reform program has endorsed exactly this approach, perhaps even wants to go a little bit further than you, Senator Brown, in terms of making this actually happen immediately.

I think the Brown-Kaufman amendment, which would have imposed a hard cap on the size of banks relative to the economy, was exactly right when it was proposed.

The path we are on is unsustainable, and we are putting individuals with disabilities at risk if we don't act soon.

Disabilities have a devastating effect on individuals and their families, and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits provide important income security that they rely on.

Chairman Johnson Announces the First in a Hearing Series on Securing the Future of the Social Security Disability Insurance Program