Carter-Schiff Legislation Stiffens Penalties for Damaging Crime
WASHINGTON, DC – President Bush will sign into law the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act (H.R. 1731) in the White House Roosevelt room at 10:45 a.m. this Thursday, July 15. Authored by Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA) and John Carter (R-TX), the legislation will give prosecutors greater power in bringing charges against an identity thief by creating a new and separate crime of “aggravated identity theft” for any person who uses the identity of another person to commit certain felonies.
“This is a victory for all Americans,” Congressman Schiff said. “Through this legislation, we better ensure that a person’s identity and their hard earned-savings will not be compromised.”
Identity theft has topped the list of consumer complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for the last four years in a row impacting millions of Americans and costing consumers and businesses billions of dollars. California ranks third in the number of victims of identity theft per capita, with over 37,000 complaints reported by consumers costing over $40 million last year. Nationally, California cities crowd the top 10 list of metropolitan areas with the highest per capita rates of identity theft reported. The Los Angeles/Long Beach metropolitan area – that includes the 29th Congressional District – is particularly prone to such crimes, ranking second nationally with over 13,000 victims.
H.R. 1731 provides for an additional penalty of two years for identity theft for the purpose of committing certain listed felonies, and five years for terrorism-related felonies. The bill also amends existing law to prohibit not just the “transfer or use” of someone else’s identity information, but also the possession of such information with the requisite criminal intent. The Senate companion bill – sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) – passed the Senate in January 2003.
Congressman Schiff is the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security, Chair of the Safe Neighborhoods Task Force, and a member of both the House Judiciary and International Relations committees. He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.