September 04,2003

Finance Committee Oversight Hearing to Focus on Terrorism and Use of Fake Identification

Finance Committee Oversight Hearing to Focus on Terrorism and Use of Fake Identification


Hearing: “The Alias Among Us: The Homeland Security and Terrorism Threat from Document Fraud, Identity Theft and Social Security Number Misuse"
Date/Time: Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2003/10 a.m. (EDT)
Location: G-50 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C.

Description: Sen. Grassley has organized this oversight hearing of the Committee on Finance to focus on the way that document fraud, identity theft and Social Security numbermisuse affect homeland security. False identification is one of the first stepsterrorists must take to assimilate into American life as part of a sleeper cell. Withcounterfeit identity documents or valid identity document under an alias, terrorist canfunction in everyday society while providing support for accomplices or plotting theirown attacks.

The Tuesday hearing – which will include the release of a report by the Office ofSpecial Investigations of the General Accounting Office – will highlight the ease withwhich terrorists can obtain fraudulent identities with either counterfeit or validdocuments, even two years after the attacks of September 11, and the government'sresponse.

Witnesses: 

A prisoner who has pled guilty to federal fraud charges (tentative)

Robert Cramer, Managing Director, Office of Special Investigationsaccompanied by John Cooney, Assistant Director, Office of Special Investigationsand Ron Malfi, Director, Office of Special InvestigationsU.S. General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C.

Asa Hutchinson, Undersecretary for Border and Transportation SecurityDepartment of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.

James Lockhart, Deputy CommissionerSocial Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland

John S. Pistole, Acting Assistant Director, Counterterrorism DivisionFederal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, D.C.

Patrick O’Carroll, Assistant Inspector General for InvestigationsOffice of Inspector General, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland

Linda R. Lewis, President and Chief Executive OfficerAmerican Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, Arlington, Virginia

Robert Douglas, Chief Executive OfficerAmerican Privacy Consultants, Oak Creek, Colorado.

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