Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday announced a working group to try to finally get data privacy legislation across the finish line.
Why it matters: This new working group signals that House Republicans are starting over on data privacy legislation.
- The committee's goal is to move legislation this Congress, per an aide.
Rep. John Joyce, the vice chair of E&C, will lead the working group, which is made up of all Republicans.
- Other members of the task force include Reps. Morgan Griffith, Troy Balderson, Jay Obernolte, Russell Fry, Nick Langworthy, Tom Kean, Craig Goldman and Julie Fedorchak.
- The Republican sweep of Washington may make it easier to pass a data privacy law.
What they're saying: "We strongly believe that a national data privacy standard is necessary to protect Americans' rights online and maintain our country's global leadership in digital technologies, including artificial intelligence," E&C Chair Brett Guthrie and Joyce said in a statement.
- "The need for comprehensive data privacy is greater than ever, and we are hopeful that we can start building a strong coalition to address this important issue."
Catch up quick: In the last Congress, then-House E&C Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and then-Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell unveiled the American Privacy Rights Act.
- CMR scrapped the full committee markup following a lack of leadership support, and APRA never made it to the House floor for a vote.
- Longstanding disagreements over private right of action and preemption, as well as wariness on regulating AI, got in the way.
What's next: The group is now soliciting feedback.
