Reps. Blackburn, Welch Release Draft Data Security and Data Breach Bill | ANA Government Relations | ANA

Reps. Blackburn, Welch Release Draft Data Security and Data Breach Bill

Last week, Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced a bipartisan draft bill on data security and data breach notification. The aim of the bill is to protect individuals whose data may have been stolen by hackers through cyberattacks.
 
An important provision in the bill would preempt the patchwork of state legislation currently providing enforcement in this area. The intent of the bill is to create a national standard for covered entities to implement and maintain reasonable security measures and practices to protect and secure personal information, including financial account information, social security numbers, names, and driver’s license numbers. ANA has been pushing for years for a national data breach and security law and federal preemption of the numerous inconsistent state laws in this area. In early 2014 we joined with fifteen other industry groups to press Congress on this front.

The House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will be holding a hearing to discuss this draft legislation Wednesday, March 18 at 10:00 a.m.
 
We strongly encourage our members to read the bill carefully and provide your input to us as we will be monitoring the hearing and filing comments with the Subcommittee. Data breach legislation is of great significance because it directly impacts the ability to do business securely in our country.