No: 108-25
Date: October 27, 2004

Senate Passes S. 2845, the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004


On October 6, 2004 , the Senate passed and sent to the House, S. 2845, The National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004. This bill would reform the intelligence community and the intelligence-related activities of the United States Government. Included in the legislation are the following provisions of interest to SSA:

Title X, 9/11 Commission Implementation Act of 2004

Section 1026. Minimum Standards for Birth Certificates

  • Beginning 2 years after promulgation of regulations, would prohibit Federal agencies from accepting, for any official purpose, a birth certificate that does not conform to requirements of this section.
  • Would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to promulgate standards for such birth certificates in consultation with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Commissioner of Social Security, among others.
  • The standards would include, among other things, a requirement for proof and verification of identity as a condition of issuance of a birth certificate.
  • Would require the Secretary of HHS, in coordination with SSA and others, to award grants to states to assist States in computerizing their birth and death records; developing the capability to match birth and death records within and among States, and noting the fact of death on birth certificates of deceased persons.

Section 1027. Drivers Licenses and Personal Identification Cards

  • Beginning 2 years after promulgation of regulations, would prohibit Federal agencies from accepting, for any official purpose, a driver's license or identification card newly issued by a State to any person unless the driver's license or personal identification card conforms to such minimum standards required by this section.
  • The standards would include, among other things, a requirement for documentation of proof of identity of an applicant for such license/card and a standard for the verifiability of documents used to obtain such license/card.
  • Would require the Secretary of Transportation to award grants to States to meet such standards.
  • Would require final rules to be issued by Department of Transportation, in consultation with the States and DHS not later than 18 months after enactment.

Section 1028. Social Security Cards

  • Would require SSA to issue regulations to restrict the issuance of multiple replacement cards not later than 180 days after enactment.
  • Would require SSA to verify records provided by an applicant for an original Social Security card, other than for purposes of enumeration at birth, within one year after enactment.
  • Would require SSA to add death, fraud and work authorization indicators to the Social Security number verification system within 18 months after enactment.
  • Would require SSA, in consultation with the DHS, to form an interagency task force for the purpose of further improving the security of Social Security cards and numbers. Not later than one year after the date of enactment, would require the task force to establish security requirements, including standards for safeguarding cards from counterfeiting, tampering, alteration, and theft; for verifying documents submitted for the issuance of replacement cards; and actions to increase enforcement against the fraudulent use or issuance of Social Security numbers and cards.
  • Would authorize, for each fiscal year 2005-2009, appropriations to the Commissioner of Social Security of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the requirements of this section.