WASHINGTON - Crafting the details of the National Consumer Credit Reporting System Improvement Act of 2003 has been a priority for Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. His efforts have earned him a berth on the committee that will work out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

"The more people understand their credit and the credit system, the better they will manage their finances. This bill would help improve the accuracy of credit reports and provide better financial information to individuals and families so they can make sound financial decisions and prevent crimes like identity theft from happening to them," Enzi said in a release.

A member of the Senate Banking Committee, Enzi worked particularly hard on the two provisions in the bill regarding financial literacy and identity theft.

Enzi, along with Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., successfully offered an amendment designed to provide information to consumers and safeguards to businesses in order to facilitate quick and cost effective recovery from identity theft.

The amendment would allow consumers, at no charge, to request from businesses any records relating to a fraudulent transaction that resulted from identity theft

Enzi said the amendment would allow victims to work with businesses to obtain information related to cases of identity theft so they can start reversing the lasting and damaging effects of the crime.

"Victims of this crime are faced with potential financial ruin when their identities, bank accounts, and credit histories are taken away from them by unscrupulous criminals. Unfortunately, restoring a person's identity can be an uphill battle. This provision would make it easier for victims of this crime to recover both economically and emotionally," he noted.

According to a recently released Federal Trade Commission study, more than 27.3 million consumers have been a victim of identity theft in the past five years.

The bill would also provide a one-stop-shop for consumers to reach various federal financial literacy programs and create a national strategy to bring consistency and focus to the federal government's overall financial literacy goals.

Enzi said the legislation would make it easier for Wyomingites to keep track of their credit. He also praised efforts of the University of Wyoming, Wyoming realtors, bankers, Fannie Mae and others who have already helped him conduct financial education classes in the state.

"Having a good or bad credit report can make or break a family. A bad credit report could mean the denial of a car loan and a car, and for people in Wyoming that is not something that is easy to go without," said Enzi.