Protect Veterans from the Theft of Health and Identifying Information in Electronic Forms Act; Protect Veterans from the THIEF Act
Summary
H.R. 7241, also known as the "Protect Veterans from the THIEF Act," aims to prevent the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from contracting with entities that might sell or misuse veterans' sensitive personal information. The bill amends Title 38 of the United States Code to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from entering into contracts that allow contractors to sell sensitive personal information. It also mandates the VA to implement measures ensuring the protection of personal information in its contracts.
Expected Effects
The bill will likely lead to increased protection of veterans' personal and health information by preventing its sale or misuse by VA contractors. The VA will be required to update its contracts and issue guidance to employees and contractors on identifying and preventing the monetization or misuse of covered information. This will enhance data security and privacy for veterans interacting with the VA.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced privacy for veterans' personal and health information.
- Reduced risk of identity theft and fraud targeting veterans.
- Increased accountability for VA contractors handling sensitive data.
- Improved trust between veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Standardized data protection practices across VA contracts.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential increase in administrative costs for the VA to implement and monitor contract compliance.
- Possible delays in contract execution due to stricter data protection requirements.
- Limited impact if contractors find loopholes to exploit data without technically selling it.
- The effectiveness depends on the VA's ability to enforce the new regulations and guidelines.
- Potential for increased complexity in VA contracting processes.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the Constitution by promoting the general welfare (Preamble) through protecting veterans' personal information. While the Constitution does not explicitly address data privacy, this bill can be seen as an effort to ensure domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare by safeguarding sensitive information. The legislative power to enact such a bill is vested in Congress under Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).