SENATOR COLLINS APPLAUDS VA’S DECISION TO OFFER FREE CREDIT MONITORING

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Service committee, today released this statement following the Secretary of Veterans Affairs’ decision to provide one year of free credit monitoring to people whose sensitive personal information may have been stolen as part of its effort to protect and assist those potentially affected by the recent data theft at an employee’s home.               “I applaud the VA’s decision to offer free credit monitoring to our veterans.  In addition, I am hopeful that personnel changes within the Department will help protect veterans from any harm as a result of this theft and give them a peace of mind.               “At a recent hearing, Secretary Nicholson assured me and my colleagues on the Senate Homeland Security committee that the VA is dedicated to addressing this disturbing security breach.  At that time, I told Secretary Nicholson that the VA’s data system has been identified, over and over again, as highly vulnerable.  I am pleased that Secretary Nicholson is taking strong action to fix these problems.”