Stop ID Theft NOW using RPAC guidelines

DearREADERS,

It isn't access to public records such as birth, marriage or death records, or the Social Security Master Death Index that cause identity theft, now is it?

Tomorrow there will be a major announcement from RPAC and I'd like you to be primed and ready to assist. What is RPAC? "The genealogical community works together through The Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC), which today includes The National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) as voting members.  The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG), the American Society of Genealogists (ASG), ProQuest and Ancestry.com serve as participating members. RPAC meets monthly, and more often if needed, to advise the genealogical and historical communities, as well as other interested parties, on ensuring proper access to vital records, on means to effect legislation, and on supporting strong records preservation policies and practices." Source: http://www.fgs.org/rpac/about-2/

RPAC announces the “Stop ID Theft NOW!” Campaign 

What if:

 (1) The Social Security Death Index were no longer available online or

(2)   Birth certificates in every state were not made public for 125 years, nor death certificates, marriages and divorce records available until after 75 years?

These and similar proposals further limiting genealogical access to “public” records are actively being considered by policy-makers at the state and federal level.

The most recent example is the hearing held by the Social Security Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee held on 2 February and found at:  http://waysandmeans.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=276835

 

Recent posts here at the RPAC Blog at http://www.fgs.org/rpac/  give additional information.

We expect to launch a significant petition drive on Tuesday, the 7^th of February. It will urge the Administration to take steps that should curtail the filing of fraudulent tax refund claims based upon identity theft from deceased infants and adults almost immediately.    Please plan to check back at the RPAC Blog at that time.

What can individual genealogists and local societies do?  In essence, our message is “Get Involved!”

Start by asking these two questions:

(1)  Do I know who my legislators (state & federal) are?

(2)  Do they know who I am?

OK, DearREADERS, tomorrow I'll let you know about the link to the petition drive, so you, your friends and neighbors can sign it.

Here's where to look for your Senators' contact info:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Here's where to look for your Congressman's contact info:
http://www.house.gov

Be READY! Writing letters doesn't work any more. We'll be asked to sign the petition and to send an email and a fax to our senators and congressmen.

Happy family tree climbing!
Myrt     :)
DearMYRTLE,
Your friend in genealogy.