Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program Between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Postal Service

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program Between the

Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Postal Service

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of computer matching program.

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Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

and the United States Postal Service (USPS) propose to conduct a

computer matching program. The purpose of the program is to identify

and locate USPS employees who owe delinquent debts to the Federal

Government as a result of their participation in benefit programs

administered by VA. Once identified and located, VA will pursue

collection of debts through voluntary payments. If such payments are

not forthcoming, VA may request USPS to offset up to 15 percent of the

employees' disposable pay as authorized under the provisions of the

Debt Collection Act of 1982.

The legal authority for undertaking this matching program is

contained in the Debt Collection Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-365), 31

U.S.C. Chapter 37, Subchapter I (General) and Subchapter II (Claims of

the United States Government, 31 U.S.C. 3711 (Collection and

Compromise) and 5 U.S.C. 5514 (Installment Deduction for Indebtedness).

These statutes authorize Federal agencies to offset a Federal

employee's salary as a means of satisfying delinquent debts owed the

United States. VA and USPS have concluded an agreement to conduct the

matching program pursuant to provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as

amended (5 U.S.C. 552a(o)).

USPS will act as the recipient (i.e., matching) agency. VA will

provide a tape extract to USPS that contains the name and social

security number (SSN) of each record subject. USPS will compare the

tape extract against its database of employee records, establishing

``hits'' (i.e., individuals common to both tapes) on the basis of

matched SSN's. For each hit, USPS will disclose to VA the following

information: name, SSN, home address and employee type (permanent or

temporary).

Records to be Matched: The systems of records maintained by the

respective agencies from which records will be disclosed for the

purpose of this computer match are as follows:

USPS: Finance Records--Payroll System (USPS 050.020) containing

records of approximately 700,000 employees. Disclosure will be made

under routine use 24 of that system, a full description of which was

last published at 57 FR 57515 (December 4, 1992).

VA: (a) ``Compensation, Pension, Education and Rehabilitation

Records--VA'' (58VA21/22) appearing at page 967 of the document

entitled Privacy Act Issuances, 1991 Comp., Volume II. The exchange of

data under this agreement is consistent with routine uses 9 and 12 of

58VA21/22. (b) ``Loan Guaranty Home, Condominium and Manufactured Home

Loan Applicant Records, Specially Adapted Housing Applicant Records and

Vendee Loan Applicant Records--VA'' (55VA26), appearing at page 962 of

the document entitled Privacy Act Issuances, 1991 Comp., Volume II. The

exchange of data under this agreement is consistent with routine use 19

of 55VA26. The debtor records actually used to perform the match are

maintained in the Centralized Accounts Receivable System (CARS). CARS

records, which number about 500,000, are a subset of those found in

both Privacy Act systems of records listed above.

The matching program is expected to begin on or about November 25,

1994, and continue in effect for 18 months. Matching activity will

begin no sooner than 30 days after publication of this notice or 40

days after a report of this matching program has been provided to

Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), whichever is

later. The agreement governing the matching program and, thus, the

matching program, may be extended an additional 12 months with the

respective approval of VA's and USPS' Data Integrity Boards. Such

extension must occur within three months prior to expiration of the 18-

month period set forth above and under the terms set forth in 5 U.S.C.

552a(o)(2)(D).

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments,

suggestions or objections regarding the proposal to conduct the

matching program to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (271A),

Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC

20420. All written comments received will be available for public

inspection only in the Veterans Service Unit at the above address,

between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except

holidays, until November 25, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mark Gottsacker, Debt Management Center (389/00A), U.S. Department of

Veterans Affairs, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal

Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111, (612) 725-1844.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information is required by the Privacy

Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(12)).

A copy of this notice has been provided to both Houses of Congress

and OMB.

Approved: October 17, 1994.

Jesse Brown,

Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. 94-26558 Filed 10-25-94; 8:45 am]

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