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May 24, 2006

Akaka questions VA delays

Topics: Political News and commentaries

Senator Akaka (D-Hawaii) published a letter that he sent to the VA inquiring as to why it took so long for the VA to inform Congress that a laptop computer containing the names and personal information of 26.5 million veterans had been stolen, and why it took so long for the VA to inform Congress.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka has questioned the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs about why it took so long to inform Congress that a laptop computer containing the names and personal information of 26.5 million veterans had been stolen.

In his letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson, Akaka, a ranking member of Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, said he is concerned that the VA did not tell veterans immediately after the theft occurred.

"How long has VA known that this information was stolen?" Akaka said in his letter. "Why was the decision made to not inform Congress, and veterans and their families sooner?"

Akaka also asked if it was appropriate for the employee to have this type and amount of data on a laptop computer.

For me, a better question since Akaka sits on the VA panel, is why his staff were not aware of this; after all, he does sit in an oversight position.

The Pentagon said the VA is providing more information through the www.firstgov.gov Web site and call centers that can be reached at 800-333-4636.

Related: Under intense bipartisan fire from Capitol Hill, Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson said Wednesday he was outraged by his agency's decision to keep the theft of veterans' personal data quiet for two weeks. ... Nicholson first learned of the theft late on May 16 and immediately notified the FBI, according to an government official familiar with the timing, who insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.

Posted by HarryTho at May 24, 2006 5:18 PM

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