Bill to Change Manifest Disclosure Passes Senate, Introduced in House
The Senate recently passed, through unanimous consent, a bill that says that public disclosure of manifest information, such as the name and address of the importer or consignee and the name and address of the shipper, will not happen if the "Secretary of the Treasury makes an affirmative finding on a shipment-by-shipment basis that disclosure is likely to pose a threat of personal injury or property damage."
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It also says that the government must make sure no passport numbers or Social Security numbers are disclosed on manifests. Politicians said that Americans shipping their household goods back to the U.S. after being stationed overseas have been the victim of identity theft because of Social Security numbers included on manifests.
A House companion bill was introduced March 10 by Reps. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., and Bill Pascrell, D-N.J. “The personal information of every American should be safe and secure,” Waltz said. “However, due to the current public disclosure of cargo manifests, our service members and their families experience a higher risk of identity theft and fraud as they move abroad. It is critical we take the necessary steps to protect them against dangerous and fraudulent activity."