House Commerce Republicans Release Draft Privacy Bill

House Republicans issued draft legislation Wednesday that would establish a national privacy law and an FTC privacy bureau. Commerce Committee ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Wash., and Consumer Protection Subcommittee ranking member Gus Bilirakis, Fla., said the U.S. needs a national standard that supports small business, promotes transparency and incentivizes data security. Republicans laid out principles to guide the legislative discussion. They announced various assignment areas for members, including proper data retention practices to protect cybersecurity, blockchain technology, privacy-by-design policies, anti-discrimination and proper FTC and state attorney general enforcement. “Moving beyond a patchwork of state and local laws will ensure consumers are protected no matter where they live in the United States,” said Internet Association CEO Dane Snowden. “The bill properly prioritizes a primary FTC enforcement approach and gives consumers meaningful controls over their own data.”