Statement of Chairman Joe Barton on News of Lexis-Nexis Data Release If it takes a new law to protect people from identity thieves, so be it WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, made the following statement today in reaction to news reports that Lexis-Nexis has released more than 300,000 private records on individuals: "This new disclosure is alarming, but hardly unusual. Every day seems to bring some horror story about how identity thieves have raided or conned their way into an electronic storehouse that was supposed to be safe and secure. Identity theft is not much different than burglary, and more and more it looks like the crooks are walking into places where the doors and windows have been left open. Worse yet, months can pass before the identity theft victim even hears about it, and the damage may take years to repair. "Once again we're forced to ask, why should it continue to be legal to sell a person's Social Security number without permission? Both Democrats and Republicans on this committee are determined to get to the bottom of this problem, and if it takes a new law to protect people from identity thieves, so be it." ####