Washington - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today hailed the Senates passage of his amendment to increase physical security and data protections at navy recruiting stations across the country. The measure adds three million dollars to the defense appropriations bill following recent reports that two Navy laptop computers were stolen from two different Navy recruiting offices in New Jersey. The laptops reportedly containing information on 31,000 Navy recruiters and applicants were said to have been stolen in early June and early July from Navy recruiting stations in Trenton and Jersey City.

We depend on sailors to protect our seas, provide medical care to our Marines, and engage hostile forces in the sky, among many other critical responsibilities, Menendez said. The least we can do is safeguard the personal information they volunteer during the application process. This amendment will provide the Navy the resources they need to ensure were protecting those who volunteer to protect our nation.

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