FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

February 21, 2019

Contact: Kevin Saucedo-Broach, 804-698-1049, DelALopez@house.virginia.gov 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES LOPEZ BILL TO PROTECT MILITARY, PASSPORT INFORMATION

RICHMOND, Va. — This week, the Virginia Senate unanimously passed legislation sponsored by Delegate Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington) requiring that Virginia residents be notified if their military ID numbers or U.S. passport numbers are stolen in an electronic security breach. This bill will extend to military IDs and passports the same level of protection under state law already covering Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and bank account information.

“My district is right next to the Pentagon, so we have a lot of residents in the area who are currently serving in the Armed Forces—not to mention over 115,000 Virginians in the military statewide,” said Delegate Lopez. “It’s unthinkable that we wouldn’t protect the personally identifiable information of the brave men and women who’ve signed up to serve their country. This bill will not only help keep their information safe from identity theft, but will also cover the information of thousands of Virginians who travel internationally every year.”

Under this legislation, the Office of the Attorney General must also be notified after a security breach occurs. The bill was passed unanimously last week by the Virginia House of Delegates and will now go to the Governor for his signature to become law.

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