Sheila Jackson Lee: “Earlier today I was very pleased to have had one of my amendments passed in the Financial Services appropriations…”

“Earlier today I was very pleased to have had one of my amendments passed in the Financial Services appropriations legislation that really many people are not aware of. That is the utilization of deceased children's Social Security numbers. Fraudulent individuals add more insult and hurt to those families who have lost their precious children by stealing their Social Security numbers and utilizing them in the public arena. It is important to note that these Social Security numbers are very valuable because, obviously, children have no long record of any credit improprieties or bad credit, and, therefore, it seems as if you have a perfect number to do all manner of havoc and to create a trail of responsibility for these mourning parents and guardians. So we have asked for an investigation into the use of these Social Security numbers and a method in which to stop these fraudulent individuals from using the Social Security numbers of deceased children, but more importantly, adding to the absolute devastation of these families that their little, precious loved one is now being abused and misused in their death. I thank my colleague, the Honorable Barbara Lee, who offered the amendment on my behalf on the floor, but I am grateful to the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee appropriations chair, ranking member, and the full committee chair and ranking member.…”