Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
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	Press Releases March 02, 2005   SENATOR COLLINS CALLS FOR GREATER PROTECTION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEE’S PRIVATE INFORMATION Sen. Collins expresses concern to GSA & BOA regarding loss of tapes with personal information   Washington, DC - Senator Susan Collins has sent letters to the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Bank of America (BOA) Corporation asking what actions they will take protect the identities and privacy of federal employees. She raised concerns following the revelation that BOA lost five computer backup tapes containing personal information on an estimated 1.6 million federal employees. The employees affected each participates in the GSA’s SmartPay program, which is a program that allows federal agencies to use special charge cards to pay for commercial goods and services. Senator Collins, who is the Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has worked to crack down on waste, misuse, and mismanagement within federal purchase card programs. She held a Committee hearing last year to examine these issues. Her staff has been briefed by GSA on the lost BOA tapes. GSA reported that the tapes have been missing - either lost or stolen - since December and contain personal information on federal employees from 30 agencies, as well as members of Congress and staff. “This incident raises serious questions regarding the protection of federal employees’ sensitive personal information,” said Senator Collins. “I am concerned that this incident occurred in the first place. I am perplexed as to why federal employees were not notified that their identifying information had been compromised until two months after the fact. And I am disturbed that we still do not know whether the tapes were accidentally lost or deliberately stolen.” Senator Collins wrote letters to Stephen Perry, GSA Administrator, and Kenneth Lewis, BOA Chairman and Chief Operating Officer. She asked them to provide answers to the following questions: • Why did it take two months for affected employees to be notified of what happened? • What steps have been taken to mitigate potential damage caused by this incident? • What steps will be taken to help ensure that the personal information of federal employees is protected better in the future? In addition, Senator Collins asked GSA whether BOA has responded to any action that GSA may have requested following the incident.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 March 2005 Press Releases February   |  April   --   2004   |  2006     March 31 - SENATOR COLLINS’ STATEMENT ON WMD REPORT   March 31 - SENATOR COLLINS COMMENDS DHS FOR NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS GOALS   March 28 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN: DHS DEEPWATER REPORT INCOMPLETE   March 22 - DHS LAUNCHES SENATOR COLLINS’ PROGRAM TO ENSURE CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND TRAINING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES   March 22 - STUDY ON PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS IN RURAL AREAS REINFORCES SENATOR COLLINS’ STANCE ON NEED FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL STATES   March 18 - SENATORS COLLINS & CARPER INTRODUCE POSTAL REFORM LEGISLATION   March 17 - COLLINS, LIEBERMAN URGE ACCELERATION OF COAST GUARD DEEPWATER MODERNIZATION PROGRAM   March 17 - SENATE APPROVES COLLINS-LIEBERMAN AMENDMENT TO RESTORE $855 MILLION IN HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING; 63-37 VOTE   March 14 - SENATOR COLLINS URGES BUDGET COMMITTEE TO INCLUDE FUNDS FOR POSTAL REFORM   March 11 - SENATOR COLLINS INTRODUCES BILL TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR AMBULANCE, RESCUE & OTHER EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES   March 9 - COMMITTEE APPROVES MICHAEL JACKSON TO BE DHS DEPUTY SECRETARY   March 9 - SENATOR COLLINS QUESTIONS DHS SECRETARY ON FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS   March 8 - SENATOR COLLINS URGES FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS   March 7 - SENATOR COLLINS CHAIRS CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR DHS DEPUTY SECRETARY NOMINEE   March 3 - SENATOR COLLINS ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $200,000 FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE & ASSETS IN MAINE   March 3 - SENATOR COLLINS REQUESTS EQUAL PAY RAISE FOR FEDERAL CIVILIAN AND MILITARY EMPLOYEES   March 3 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN STATEMENT ON INDICTMENTS FOR FEMA FRAUD   March 3 - Senator Collins Introduces National Women’s History Museum Bill   March 2 - Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Federal Whistleblower Protection Introduced In Senate   March 2 current Press Release   March 1 - Senator Collins Announces Release of Nearly $17 Million for Homeland Security in Maine
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Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510