Responding to the wave of identity theft cases that has swept the nation in recent years, dozens of states have swiftly taken action.

At last count, at least 34 states have adopted bills that make it easier for consumer to avoid or clean up after identity theft.

For example, New Jersey’s law, the strongest such law in the country, allows consumers to “freeze” their credit reports, effectively denying access to would-be thieves. By locking identity thieves out of your credit report, only you can open a new account in your name.

Such a freeze would allow security breach victims, such as the 26 million veterans whose personal information was stolen this past spring, to protect themselves before they run the risk of losing their good credit and good name.

Across the country, more than 3 million people have reported identity theft this year alone, and spent countless hours working to restore good credit and clear their names.

Unfortunately, members of Congress have been slow to come to the rescue of identity theft victims and could even make things worse.

At the behest of credit card companies, banks and other data dealers, Congress is considering legislation that would make it harder residents of New Jersey and 16 other states to freeze their credit reports.

The weak federal bill, which would allow security freezes only after consumers have fallen victim to identity thieves, “is like saying you can’t have a seat belt until you’ve been in a car crash,” said Consumer Program Director Ed Mierzwinski.

“A bad security breach is no reason for Congress to pass a bad identity theft law that serves the banks, and does nothing for the 26 million veterans and active duty military personnel who were victims of a serious data leak.”

Georgia PIRG is opposing the federal bill.