The House Energy and Commerce Innovation, Data, and Commerce subcommittee advanced a revamped draft proposal for a Federal privacy law by unanimous vote on Thursday, sending the bill to the full committee for a vote.
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., introduced a reworked version of the American Privacy Rights Act earlier this week, bringing on a number of changes from the original draft bill introduced in April.
The bill aims to set clear, national data privacy rights and protections for Americans.
Those proposed data privacy rights would limit the ability of big tech companies like Meta and TikTok to use Americans’ data without their permission – including through the use of algorithms that often fuel artificial intelligence applications.
Lawmakers from both parties raised numerous concerns with the legislation during Thursday’s markup, indicating that it once again faces an uncertain road toward passage.
For instance, both Reps. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and Robin Kelly, D-Ill., noted the exclusion of stronger restrictions around biometric data collection, such as fingerprints and photos used in facial recognition technology, and algorithmic bias.
“I urge my colleagues to agree to continue to work on this bill before it heads to a full committee markup,” Rep. Kelly said. “Lacking the necessary changes raised by me and others, I’m not yet sure I could support this privacy legislation to be considered at a full committee markup.”
Members on both sides of the aisle have expressed a desire for years to pass a comprehensive Federal data privacy standard – something the U.S. is a global outlier in lacking – and the American Privacy Rights Act represents the leading proposal for doing so.
While the bill’s backers hailed Thursday’s vote as an important milestone, the legislation will still need to be approved by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the House and Senate, before it could be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
The American Privacy Rights Act was first introduced in the 117th Congress on a bipartisan, bicameral basis. It passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee on a vote of 53-2 but stalled in the House after that.
Thursday’s actions come less than six before the 2024 elections – making for a tight timing window to consider the bill during the busy election season.
