Palm Coast Times

On February 10, 2024, President Joseph Biden signed into law the Moving American's Privacy Protection Act (MAPPA), a bipartisan legislation aimed at safeguarding the personal information of Americans. The bill, introduced by U.S. Congressmen Mike Waltz and Bill Pascrell, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to remove personally identifiable information (PII) from cargo manifests before public disclosure.

According to Congressman Waltz, "The personal information of every American should be safe and secure. However, due to the current public disclosure of cargo manifests, our service members and their families experience a higher risk of identity theft and fraud as they move abroad. We must secure international travel and help safeguard the livelihoods of Americans."

Congressman Pascrell echoed these concerns, stating that "Privacy is deeply important for all Americans, particularly our servicemembers abroad. Unfortunately, our troops are often victims of identity theft... We must make sure information like names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and passport numbers can be removed from cargo manifests before they are disclosed. Our plan will protect Americans from having their personal information compromised."

The legislation has received support from various industry associations, including the American Trucking Associations' Moving & Storage Conference. ATA President and CEO Chris Spear praised the bill, stating, "We applaud Reps. Waltz and Pascrell for leading the passage of this bill to safeguard repatriating Americans' personal data, which will protect them from becoming victims of financial fraud."

The bill also enjoys support from the trade data brokerage industry, the National Association of Realtors, and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). Additionally, the legislation addresses the concerns of the relocation industry, including the risk of identity theft faced by individuals relocating from overseas.

Currently, CBP requires manifest sheets, which include personally identifiable information, in order to disclose and document the cargo of incoming vessels for customs and security purposes. However, in recent years, the release of such information has led to identity theft, credit card fraud, and unwanted solicitations.

With the passage of the Moving American's Privacy Protection Act, Americans can now rest assured that their personal information will be better safeguarded during international travel and relocation. This legislation represents a significant step forward in protecting the privacy and security of all Americans.