FEINGOLD CALLS ON VA TO SHARE DETAILS REGARDING THEFT OF VETERANS’
PERSONAL DATA
More Information about Theft is Critical in Assisting
Millions of Affected Veterans
May 23, 2006
Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold has
written to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs requesting more information
on the theft of sensitive personal information regarding 26.5 million
veterans. Following reports of the theft yesterday, Feingold wrote
Secretary Jim Nicholson today outlining his questions and concerns
regarding the theft and urging him to continue to make public any
appropriate details so that veterans and their families are prepared
for problems they may encounter. The text of the letter reads:
The Honorable R. James Nicholson
Secretary - Department of Veterans Affairs
Dear Secretary Nicholson,
I am writing concerning the theft of 26.5 million veterans’
sensitive personal information. I appreciate your public announcement
regarding this situation; however, I have many questions and concerns
about the implications of this security breach.
I understand that you briefed the House and Senate Veterans
Affairs Committees yesterday, and that you are sending notification
letters to the veterans whose information was stolen. While this is
a first step in sharing information about this breach, there are many
details missing in the information you have released. Both Congress
and the veterans who are affected by this breach must be better informed
in order to take appropriate actions to protect these veterans from
identity theft and other harms. I urge you to continue to make public
any appropriate details so that veterans and their families are prepared
for problems they may encounter. I also request that you provide me
with the following information:
· The exact date and time of the burglary
· The specific amount and type of information
that was taken
· The reason(s) why Congress and veterans were
not notified immediately after the theft
· VA privacy policies regarding veterans’
personal information and the steps the VA takes to enforce those policies
· Information on action that VA will be taking
to prevent further security breaches
· Information on training efforts that VA is
giving staff regarding data security
· The basis for your statement that that there
is no indication that any improper use is being made of the data
· Action that the VA will take if veterans’
information is misused
I would appreciate your immediate response to this letter.
This information is important to our veterans and I want to make sure
that my staff is able to assist veterans who contact my office about
this issue.
