H.R. 89, Online Privacy Protection Act Sponsor: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J. Introduced: Jan. 3, 2001 Committee: House Energy and Commerce Description: H.R. 89 would require the Federal Trade Commission to formulate regulations governing the control of personal information collected on all Web sites. The bill aims to cover personal privacy not included in the 1998 Child Online Protection Act. It would mandate that Web sites give notice of their privacy practices and provide a process for users to consent to those practices.
H.R. 91, Social Security Online Privacy Protection Act Sponsor: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J. Introduced: Jan. 3, 2001 Committee: House Energy and Commerce Description: H.R. 91 would restrict the use of the Social Security numbers on the Web in an effort to protect them from fraudulent abuse. Specifically, the bill would prohibit anyone from mining personal information from Web sites and selling that information without prior written consent.
H.R. 220, Identity Theft Protection Act Sponsor: Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas Introduced: Jan. 3, 2001 Committees: House Government Reform, Ways and Means Description: H.R. 220 would forbid any federal agency other than the Social Security Administration from using Social Security numbers. The bill aims to protect Americans' privacy and prevent identity theft. Currently, various federal agencies, including the IRS, use Social Security numbers. The legislation would require the issuing of new numbers to all Americans within five years.
H.R. 237, Consumer Internet Privacy Enhancement Act Sponsor: Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. Introduced: Jan. 20, 2001 Committee: House Energy and Commerce Description: H.R. 237 seeks to protect the personal information Web sites collect about their customers. The bill would give consumers the opportunity to limit the use and disclosure of such information and would require Web sites to define what information is being collected, how it is collected and why it is being used. Web sites also would have to disclose if a consumer's personal information is required for using the site and guarantee that the methods of collecting information are secure. The bill is similar to leading privacy legislation that Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and John Kerry, D-Mass., introduced in the 106th Congress.
H.R. 260, Wireless Privacy Protection Act Sponsor: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J. Introduced: Jan. 30, 2001 Committee: House Energy and Commerce Description: H.R. 260 seeks to prevent cell-phone spam before it becomes a serious problem. The bill would require customer consent before advertisers and marketers could obtain wireless call location information, which would determine whether marketers could use that information with third parties. The bill, referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has been welcomed by privacy advocates.
H.R. 347, Consumer Online Privacy and Disclosure Act Sponsor: Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas Introduced: Jan. 31, 2001 Committee: House Energy and Commerce Description: H.R. 347 would require the Federal Trade Commission to write online privacy regulations. The bill would prohibit Internet service providers and Web-site operators from allowing third parties to send "cookies" to computers without the consent of users. It also would require Web-site operators to give users the chance to opt out of having their personal information distributed to other companies or organizations.
H.R. 583, Privacy Commission Act Sponsor: Rep. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark. Introduced: Feb. 13, 2001 Committee: House Government Reform Description: H.R. 583 would create a 17-member privacy commission tasked with studying existing privacy laws, conducting field hearings and making legislative recommendations to Congress within 18 months.
H.R. 1215, Medical Information Protection and Research Enhancement Act Sponsor: Rep. Jim Greenwood, R-Pa. Introduced: March 27, 2001 Committee: House Energy and Commerce, Judiciary Description: H.R. 1215 seeks to ensure confidentiality with respect to medical records and health care-related information. The bill would establish uniform federal protection for personally identifiable health information in paper or electronic form. In introducing the bill, Jim Greenwood, R-Pa., said medical privacy regulations promulgated by the Clinton administration in its last days are "woefully inadequate" and an "abject failure." The Bush administration delayed implementation of those rules to seek more comment on them.
H.R. 1443, IRS Refund Accessibility Act Sponsor: Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas Introduced: April 4, 2001 Committee: House Ways and Means Description: H.R. 1443 would allow the IRS to post on its Web site the names of taxpayers who are entitled to undelivered tax refunds.
H.R. 1478, Personal Information Privacy Act Sponsor: Rep. Gerald Kleczka, D-Wis. Introduced: April 4, 2001 Committees: House Ways and Means, Financial Services Description: H.R. 1478 would require third parties to obtain consent from people before making their Social Security numbers available for commercial use. Under the bill, it would be illegal to refuse services or goods to consumers who "opt out" of sharing their numbers. Businesses would face up to $10,000 fines for each violation. The law also would apply to credit bureaus.
H.R. 2135, Consumer Privacy Protection Act Sponsor: Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Ohio Introduced: June 12, 2001 Committee: House Energy and Commerce Description: H.R. 2135 would set a national privacy standard that combines the "opt in" and "opt out" approaches to privacy, treats online and offline collection of personal information equally and prohibits states from passing stricter privacy laws. Under the bill, companies could not divulge "sensitive personal information" such as Social Security numbers and financial information without prior consent, but they could share such details as consumers' phone numbers and addresses unless they are asked not to do so. Among other things, the measure also would: require companies to disclose how they use information; prohibit companies from refusing to do business with consumers who object to information-sharing; and guarantee consumers "reasonable access" to the information that is collected about them. Consumers could sue for up to $10,000 for each violation. Bill sponsor Tom Sawyer, D-Ohio, introduced another privacy-related measure, H.R. 2136, the same day. A similar Senate bill, S. 1055, was introduced.
H.R. 2136, Confidential Information Protection Act Sponsor: Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Ohio Introduced: June 12, 2001 Committee: House Government Reform Description: H.R. 2136 would limit the federal government's use of the personal information it collects for statistical purposes. Under the bill -- which would cover individuals, businesses and other organizations -- agencies such as the Census Bureau could use such information only for statistical purposes and could not divulge the information without "informed consent." Officials who knowingly violated the restrictions would be subject to up to five years in jail and/or a $250,000 fine. Bill sponsor Tom Sawyer, D-Ohio, introduced another privacy-related measure, H.R. 2135, the same day.
H.R. 2215, 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. Introduced: June 19, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description: H.R. 2215 would authorize money for the Justice Department in fiscal 2002. The bill includes language that would subject the FBI and its information technology systems to greater scrutiny by requiring the hiring of a deputy inspector general to oversee the crime agency. The House Judiciary Committee also voted for a provision that would require a report on the FBI's e-mail surveillance system formerly known as Carnivore. A separate Senate bill, S. 1065, that would require the hiring of an FBI inspector general also was introduced.
H.R. 2615, Patient Privacy Act Sponsor: Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas Introduced: July 24, 2001 Committees: House Ways and Means, Government Reform Description: H.R. 2615 would repeal sections of a 1996 that authorized the creation of a "standard unique healthcare identifier. Bill sponsor Ron Paul, R-Texas, said when combined with the medical privacy rules imposed on the healthcare industry in 2001, the healthcare identifier "would allow federal bureaucrats to track every citizen's medical history from cradle to grave." His bill also would ban the use of federal funds to create any database containing personal health information.
H.R. 2720, Consumer's Right to Financial Privacy Act Sponsor: Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass. Introduced: Aug. 2, 2001 Committee: House Financial Services Description: H.R. 2720 would strengthen the financial privacy protections enacted as part of a 1999 banking reform law. The bill would amend the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to require consumers to "opt in" to the sharing of personal information that financial institutions collect about them. Under current law, institutions may share such information with third parties unless consumers take action to "opt out" of the process. The measure also would: prevent financial institutions from denying service to consumers who refuse to share their personal information; give consumers the right to access any information collected about them; give the FTC greater authority to issue privacy rules for non-depository institutions; give state attorneys general authority to enforce the federal law; and close various exemptions in the law, including those requiring financial institutions to provide notice of their privacy policies. A related bill, H.R. 2730, was introduced the same day, and other measures on the issue, S. 30 and S. 450, also have been introduced in the Senate.
H.R. 2915, Public Safety and Cyber Security Enhancement Act Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas Introduced: Sept. 21, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description: H.R. 2915 would expand the federal government's authority to tap e-mail communications. Under current law, the content of e-mails or telephone calls currently can be obtained via a wiretap after a judge issues a warrant that police have "probable cause" of a crime. But under the bill, a judge would have to issue a "pen register," a technology that identifies telephone numbers dialed by suspects, after a police officer says it is "relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation." The measure also would allow police to intercept the wire or electronic communications of computer hackers if the person whose computer has been hacked gives permission.
H.R. 2975, Provide Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (PATRIOT) Act Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. Introduced: Oct. 2, 2001 Committees: House Judiciary, Intelligence, International Relations, Resources, Ways and Means Description: H.R. 2975 seeks to combat terrorism by, among other things, expanding the powers of law enforcement to conduct electronic surveillance. The bill preserves the heart of Attorney General John Ashcroft's original proposal: the ability to conduct nationwide searches from one court order, to conduct "roving" wiretaps, and to obtain e-mail header information under a legal standard that does not require judicial review.
H.R. 3033, Foreign Student Database Funding Act Sponsor: Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn. Introduced: Oct. 4, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description: H.R. 3033 would authorize money for a program to collect information on foreign students who receive visas to study in the United States. Congress mandated the program, which calls for compiling the information electronically where possible, in a 1996 immigration law. Rather than fund the program with a $100 nonrefundable fee on student visa applications, as required in the 1996 law, H.R. 3033 would authorize the use of tax dollars to create the system. The measure also would require the General Accounting Office to review the program one year after its launch, which is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2003.
H.R. 3043, Untitled Sponsor: Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y. Introduced: Oct. 4, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description: H.R. 3043 would authorize a system for tracking foreign students within the United States. The bill, introduced after news reports that one of the alleged terrorists in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks against the United States, would allow U.S. officials to collect information on: where foreign students are attending school; whether they transfer to new schools; what they are studying; when they are expected to complete their studies; and where they live and work while in school. The Justice Department would have six months to create the tracking system.
H.R. 3052, Visa Information Security Act Sponsor: Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas Introduced: Oct. 5, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description: H.R. 3052 would require machine-readable biometric identifiers such as fingerprints on the visas of foreigners entering the United States. The State Department and attorney general would have to crosscheck the identifiers against criminal databases before issuing visas.
H.R. 3053, Identity Theft Prevention Act Sponsor: Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore. Introduced: Oct. 5, 2001 Committee: House Financial Services Description: H.R. 3053 seeks to prevent identity theft by imposing new rules on the issuance and use of credit cards. Among other things, the bill would make it illegal for businesses or organizations that accept credit payments to include more than the last five digits of credit cards on customer receipts. The rule would take effect Jan. 1, 2003, for new machines that print receipts, and machines manufactured before then would have to be upgraded to comply by Jan. 1, 2006.
H.R. 3068, Financial Privacy and National Security Enhancement Act Sponsor: Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio Introduced: Oct. 9, 2001 Committee: House Financial Services Description: H.R. 3068 seeks to ensure a uniform standard for the security, use and protection of consumer financial information. The bill temporarily would make the financial privacy rules enacted as part of a 1999 banking law as that standard by prohibiting states from passing tougher laws for three years. It also would establish a presidential commission to study possible improvements to the national standard. Bill sponsor Bob Ney, R-Ohio, said a patchwork of different standards could undermine law enforcement officials' efforts to track the financial activities of terrorists because financial institutions would not be able to comply with subpoenas as quickly. Competing measures include S. 30, S. 450, S. 536 and H.R. 2720.
H.R. 3101, Aviation Security Technology Enhancement Act Sponsor: Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah Introduced: Oct. 11, 2001 Committees: House Science, and Transportation and Infrastructure Description: H.R. 3101 seeks to heighten aviation security by requiring the use of technologies such as fingerprint identification, face, hand and voice recognition, and retinal scanning. The bill would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop standards for biometric and other technologies in an effort to ensure their widespread use in identifying airline passenger and checking their bags, and in restricting airport employee access to in certain areas. It also would require federal officials to field test the technologies in airports.
H.R. 3108, Uniting and Strengthening America (USA) Act Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. Introduced: Oct. 12, 2001 Committees: House Judiciary, Intelligence, International Relations, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Education and the Workforce, Transportation and Infrastructure Description: H.R. 3108 seeks to combat terrorism by expanding the investigatory powers of federal law enforcers. Among other things, the bill would broaden the authority for wiretapping but limit the authority to five years. Congress ultimately cleared a compromise anti-terrorism measure, H.R. 3162, and President Bush signed it into law.
H.R. 3162, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. Introduced: Oct. 23, 2001 Committees: House Judiciary, Intelligence, Financial Services, International Relations, Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services Description: H.R. 3162 encompasses the House-Senate compromise on new anti-terrorism powers for police, including broader authority for electronic and other surveillance activities without judicial review. President Bush signed the legislation into law Oct. 26, 2001, three days after it was introduced. Although the law contains a "sunset" clause that ends the new surveillance powers at the end of 2005, several of the most important new powers are indefinite. Those include the ability to monitor e-mail addresses, to share secret grand-jury information with law enforcement agencies, and to conduct "secret searches" in which police delay giving notice to the suspect. The House passed the bill on a 357-66 vote Oct. 24, and the Senate cleared it on a 98-1 vote the next day.
H.R. 3181, Untitled Sponsor: Rep. Michael Bilirakis, R-Fla. Introduced: Oct. 30, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description: H.R. 3181 would overhaul the system for granting visas to foreigners to study at U.S. colleges. The bill would place a nine-month moratorium on such visas and then require that future visas include machine-readable biometric identifiers, such as fingerprints, so port authorities could crosscheck visa holders against the names listed in criminal databases. The measure was one of several introduced in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and a similar measure, H.R. 3221, was introduced the same week.
H.R. 3205, Enhanced Border Security Act Sponsor: Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich. Introduced: Nov. 1, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary, Intelligence, International Relations, Government Reform, Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure Description: H.R.3205 is an omnibus measure that seeks to enhance U.S. border security and thus combat terrorism. The bill would require law enforcement and intelligence agencies to share information on potential terrorists with the State Department and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). It also would use technology to track foreign students as they travel the nation, and to check immigrants' palm prints at airports and borders. And the measure would authorize the State Department to raise fees through the use of machine-readable visas and use the funds to improve technology at U.S. ports. Other technology-related provisions would: give more direction to the INS on establishing an automated exit/entry control system for foreign visitors; require airlines to electronically transmit to law enforcement the passenger and crew lists for all flights arriving in the United States; and fully implement the use of biometric border-crossing cards and the machines to read them. A Senate companion measure, S. 1618, and another related Senate bill, S. 1627, also were introduced.
H.R. 3220, Secure Transportation for America Act Sponsor: Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas Introduced: Nov. 1, 2001 Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure, Judiciary, Ways and Means, Rules Description: H.R.3220 aims to improve aviation security. Among other things, the bill would require airlines to electronically transmit lists of the passengers and crew on their flights to the Transportation Department. The lists would have to include names, birth dates and other identifying information. The measure also would provide tax credits for certain improvements to airport security, including the installation of voice-stress analysis and other technologies, the enhanced use of computer profiling to screen passengers and property, and the addition of technology to screen employees and police entering secure areas.
H.R. 3221, Untitled Sponsor: Rep. Marge Roukema, R-N.J. Introduced: Nov. 1, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description: H.R.3221 would overhaul the student visa program by imposing stricter reporting requirements and a nine-month moratorium on the program. Measures with similar language, including H.R. 3181, S. 1618 and S. 1627, also were introduced after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which were carried out in part by hijackers who entered the United States on student visas.
H.R. 3229, Visa Entry Reform Act Sponsor: Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Calif. Introduced: Nov. 6, 2001 Committees: House Judiciary, International Relations, Transportation and Infrastructure Description: H.R. 3229 seeks to enhance U.S. border security. The bill would connect law enforcement with a centralized database, upgrade technologies used to prevent fraud and illegal entry by immigrants, and impose new restrictions on student visas to prevent misuse of the program. It also would require airlines to electronically transmit passenger and crew information to U.S. authorities so they could crosscheck the names against criminal databases. A Senate companion bill, S. 1627, also was introduced, as were competing measures, S. 1618 and H.R. 3205.
H.R. 3367, Untitled Sponsor: Rep. Jim Saxton, R-N.J. Introduced: Nov. 28, 2001 Committee: Senate Armed Services Description: H.R. 3367 seeks to ensure the trustworthiness of companies that do contract work for the Defense Department. The bill would require contractors to provide fingerprint cards to their employees who work at military facilities. The companies also would have to perform background investigations, psychological assessments and behavioral observations on the employees.
H.R. 3368, Protect Victims of Identity Theft Act Sponsor: Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill. Introduced: Nov. 28, 2001 Committees: House Financial Services, Judiciary Description: H.R. 3368 would allow consumers to sue companies that disclose their credit histories up to two years after they discover the infractions. The bill seeks to provide greater consumer protection in cases of identity theft, which have proliferated in recent years, in part thanks to the availability of consumers' personal information on the Internet. The measure was introduced after the Supreme Court concluded on Nov. 13, 2001, that Congress intended to give consumers only two years from the date of an infraction, not the date it was discovered, to sue. Related bills, H.R. 3369 and H.R. 3387, and a broader identity-theft measure, S. 1742, also were introduced.
H.R. 3369, Fair Credit Reporting Act Amendment Sponsor: Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz. Introduced: Nov. 28, 2001 Committees: House Financial Services, Judiciary Description: H.R. 3369 would allow consumers to sue companies that disclose their credit histories up to two years after they discover the infractions. The bill seeks to provide greater consumer protection in cases of identity theft, which have proliferated in recent years, in part thanks to the availability of consumers' personal information on the Internet. The measure was introduced after the Supreme Court concluded on Nov. 13, 2001, that Congress intended to give consumers only two years from the date of an infraction, not the date it was discovered, to sue. Related bills, H.R. 3368 and H.R. 3387, and a broader identity-theft measure, S. 1742, also were introduced.
H.R. 3387, Fair Credit Reporting Act Limitations on Actions Act Sponsor: Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb. Introduced: Nov. 30, 2001 Committees: House Financial Services, Judiciary Description: H.R. 3387 would allow consumers to sue companies that disclose their credit histories up to two years after they discover the infractions. The bill seeks to provide greater consumer protection in cases of identity theft, which have proliferated in recent years, in part thanks to the availability of consumers' personal information on the Internet. The measure was introduced after the Supreme Court concluded on Nov. 13, 2001, that Congress intended to give consumers only two years from the date of an infraction, not the date it was discovered, to sue. Related bills, H.R. 3368 and H.R. 3369, and a broader identity-theft measure, S. 1742, also were introduced.
H.R. 3515, International Student Responsibility Act Sponsor: Rep. George Miller, D-Calif. Introduced: Dec. 18, 2001 Committees: House Judiciary, Education and the Workforce Description: H.R.3515 would overhaul the program that grants visas to foreign students so they can study at U.S. colleges. The bill was introduced after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States, which involved at least one terrorist admitted on a student visa. Among other things, the measure would authorize more resources to help the Immigration and Naturalization Service create an electronic database for tracking foreign students and to use the database aggressively. Similar language was included in an omnibus border-security bill, H.R. 3525, the House passed Dec. 19, and similar bills, including H.R. 3043, H.R. 3181 and H.R. 3221, were introduced.
H.R. 3525, Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. Introduced: Dec. 19, 2001 Committees: House Judiciary, Intelligence, International Relations, Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure Description: H.R.3525 is an omnibus bill that seeks to enhance U.S. border security. Among other things, the measure would require the Immigration and Naturalization Service to strengthen its computer-based system for tracking foreign students who receive visas to attend U.S. colleges. The bill also would give immigration officials electronic access to law enforcement and intelligence information on potential immigrants, and it would authorize $150 million to upgrade technology at U.S. borders. A similar Senate measure, S. 1749, was introduced, as were other related measures, S. 1618, S. 1627 and H.R. 3205.
H.R. 3600, National Border Security Agency Act Sponsor: Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo. Introduced: Dec. 20, 2001 Committees: House Government Reform, Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means Description: H.R.3600 would consolidate three border-security agencies into a National Border Security Agency. The bill also would create an "entry-exit" system that would record the personal identifiers, such as fingerprints or biometric information, of international visitors.
H.R. 3911, Telemarketing Relief Act Sponsor: Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn. Introduced: March 7, 2002 Committee: House Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Agriculture Description: H.R. 3911 would require the FTC to create a national "do not call" registry in an effort to help consumers avoid telemarketing calls. Companies that called names on the list would be subject to fines of up to $10,000 per offense.
H.R. 4513, Social Security Number Protection Act Sponsor: Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass. Introduced: April 18, 2002 Committee: House Energy and Commerce, House Ways and Means Description: H.R. 4513 aims to restrict fraud and identify theft by establishing federal criminal penalties to prevent the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers. States also could sue violators, subject to review by the FTC. Sales of the numbers for law enforcement, national security, public health or research purposes would be allowed. Related bills also were introduced, and they include H.R. 2036, S. 324, S. 848, S. 1014.
H.R. 4561, Federal Agency Protection of Privacy Act Sponsor: Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga. Introduced: April 24, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary Final Action: Passed by the House Description: H.R. 4561 would require federal agencies to analyze the potential effect that any new regulations might have on personal privacy when they circulate the proposed regulations for public comment. Following public comment, agencies would have to change proposed regulations to increase privacy and review all rules every 10 years to determine if their impact on personal privacy could be lessened. The bill aims to prevent any privacy violations through such mediums as the Internet or surveillance cameras. A Senate companion bill, S. 2492, also was introduced.
H.R. 4633, Driver's License Modernization Act Sponsor: Rep. James Moran, D-Va. Introduced: May 1, 2002 Committee: House Transportation and Infrastructure, Judiciary, Science Final Action: Passed by the House Description: H.R. 4633 would require all states to include computer information chips on all driver's licenses within five years. The chips would contain all written information on the card, as well as a biometric identifier such as a fingerprint or retinal scan. That information would be encrypted to prevent unauthorized access but also would have to be interoperable with license databases for all the states. The federal government would issue standards for the biometric data and for interoperability. The bill also would mandate that states incorporate several visual identifiers on their licenses, such as 3-D elements or barcodes, to prevent license fraud. Creating a fake license would become a federal crime, even if the license were not transported across state lines.
H.R. 4678, Consumer Privacy Protection Act Sponsor: Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla. Introduced: May 8, 2002 Committee: House Energy and Commerce, International Relations Description: H.R. 4678 would set parameters for protecting the privacy of both online and offline consumers. The measure would require businesses -- both online and offline -- to provide notice of their privacy practices at the point that personally identifiable information is collected, and to give consumers the ability to "opt out" of sharing any data unrelated to fulfilling the transaction with a third party. It also would create a sweeping federal pre-emption of stronger state privacy laws and a bar on private lawsuits for privacy violations.
H.R. 5013, Untitled Sponsor: George Gekas, R-Pa. Introduced: June 25, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary Description: H.R. aims to improve homeland security by restricting the immigration of terrorists and their supporters, drug traffickers, illegal aliens, human rights abusers or people who have engaged in identity fraud. The measure seeks to make forms of identification, including birth certificates, driver's licenses and Social Security cards, more secure by requiring immigrants who use the visa-waiver program to obtain passports with biometric identifiers.
H.R. 5646, Stop Taking Our Health Privacy Act Sponsor: Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass. Introduced: Oct. 16, 2002 Committees: House Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce Description: H.R. 5646 would make it illegal for pharmacies, insurance companies and other health entities to look at private, patient health data in order to send those patients marketing materials on drugs that treat their ailments. Under current rules established in August, pharmacies can search their databases for patients using a specific drug and send them unsolicited advertisements on behalf of a drug maker for an alternate drug, regardless of whether this drug is more effective or affordable. The consumers, however, do not have a say in whether they want to receive the solicitations. The bill would require the health entities to notify consumers of their marketing agreements and practices and obtain permission from consumers before sending unsolicited materials. A Senate companion bill, S. 3064, also was introduced.
H.R. 5457, Judicial Code of Conduct Privacy Clarification Act Sponsor: Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Ill. Introduced: Sept. 25, 2002 Committee: House Financial Services Description: H.R. 5457 would amend the financial privacy provisions of the 1999 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to exempt attorneys from the law. Bill sponsor Judy Biggert, R-Ill., said her measure is necessary because the rules the FTC drafted to implement the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act are so broad that they require attorneys who engage in financial activities, such as tax preparation and debt-collection cases, to send privacy notices to their clients. Just sending those notices, which inform clients of their right to "opt out" of the sharing of their personal information with other entities, may violate stricter "opt in" confidentiality policies governing the legal profession, Biggert said.
H.R. 5474, Identity Theft Consumer Notification Act Sponsor: Rep. Gerald Kleczka, D-Wis. Introduced: Sept. 26, 2002 Committee: House Financial Services Description: H.R. 5474 is designed to help consumers who become victims of identity theft. The legislation would require banks to notify customers immediately if someone tampers with their personal financial information. Banks would have to reimburse any losses and would face penalties if they do not act soon enough. The penalties could include the loss of status as a federally insured deposit institution, as well as civil fines. Law enforcement officials could request temporary waivers of the disclosure rules to further investigations.
H.J. Res. 38, Untitled Sponsor: Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas Introduced: March 15, 2001 Committees: House Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce Description: H.J. Res. 38 is joint resolution of disapproval that would overturn the new medical privacy regulations unveiled late last year by the Clinton administration. On Feb. 28, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson postponed implementation of the rules by 30 days to allow more time for public comment. But the resolution, as authorized under the Congressional Review Act, would reverse the rules altogether.
H. Res. 159, Untitled Sponsor: Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash. Introduced: June 7, 2001 Committees: House Energy and Commerce, Administration, Government Reform Description: H. Res. 159 would encourage House lawmakers to include privacy policies on their Web sites and to incorporate the new Platform for Privacy Preferences technology into those sites to enable users to decide how much personal information to divulge online.
Senate
S. 30, Financial Information Privacy Protection Act Sponsor: Sen. Paul Sarbanes, D-Md. Introduced: Jan. 22, 2001 Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Description: S. 30 would tighten several privacy provisions in the 1999 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act. Among other things, the bill would require that consumers be permitted to "opt out" of the information-sharing practices between banks and affiliated brokerages and insurance companies and that they be required to "opt in" before banks could disclose any medical information or personal spending habits, such as the use of credit cards. Customers also would have to be given access to the information banks collect and be given the right to correct any mistakes, although banks could charge a fee for providing such access.
S. 197, Spyware Control and Privacy Protection Act Sponsor: Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. Introduced: Jan. 29, 2001 Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Description: S. 197 would require companies that make online tracking software, known as "spyware," to inform users of the software and give them the right to access the personal data that is collected about them. In addition, the bill generally would require that users of spyware "opt in" before the makers of the software could collect or divulge personal information about users to third parties, and it would require that the spyware be secure from hackers.
S. 290, Student Privacy Protection Act Sponsor: Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. Introduced: Feb. 8, 2001 Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Description: S. 290, introduced by two leaders of the Congressional Privacy Caucus, would require schools to adopt policies requiring parental consent before personal information could be collected from students for commercial purposes, including solicitations from online marketing or computer companies. The bill would not ban marketing of any kind in schools but would require parents to consent before researchers could ask their children to divulge personal information.
S. 324, Social Security Number Privacy Act Sponsor: Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala. Introduced: Feb. 14, 2001 Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Description: S. 324 would bar the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers by financial institutions and would require financial institutions to treat the numbers they already have about their customers as "non-public, personal information" subject to privacy provisions in a 1999 banking law.
S. 450, Financial Institution Privacy Protection Act Sponsor: Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. Introduced: March 1, 2001 Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Description: S. 450 would amend the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in an effort to increase privacy protection for personal information such as health information and any information transmitted electronically.
S. 451, Social Security Number Protection Act Sponsor: Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. Introduced: March 1, 2001 Committee: Senate Finance Description: S. 451 would establish civil and criminal penalties for the sale or purchase of Social Security numbers.
S. 536, Freedom from Behavioral Profiling Act Sponsor: Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala. Introduced: March 14, 2001 Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Description: S. 536 would bar financial services companies from exchanging information about their customers' check or credit-card transactions unless the customers first "opt in" to such a data-collection system. The measure would amend the privacy requirements of the 1999 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act, which is set to take effect in July 2001. That law only requires that banks give their customers the right to "opt out" on the sale of their information with third parties, putting the burden on the customer rather than the company.
S. 848, Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Introduced: May 9, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description: S. 848 would limit the misuse of Social Security numbers and establish criminal penalties for such misuse. The bill would make it illegal to sell or display a Social Security number to the general public without the permission of the person the number identifies. Government agencies would have to edit the numbers within official documents such as bankruptcy records and birth certificates before divulging those records, and states could not use the numbers on driver's licenses. The measure would create some exemptions for business use of Social Security numbers -- for internal use and some business-to-business transactions, for instance -- but companies could not refuse to sell a good or service to someone who refuses to disclose his or her number. It attempts to resolve a controversy that emerged over a related bill, S. 2554, in the 106th Congress.
S. 851, Citizens' Privacy Commission Act Sponsor: Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn. Introduced: May 9, 2001 Committee: Senate Governmental Affairs Description: S. 851 would create a commission to study federal, state and local government privacy practices. The bill would deal exclusively with government privacy issues, including how governments collect, use and distribute personal information, how they comply with the 1974 Privacy Act, and how individuals can obtain redress for government privacy violations. The commission would consist of 11 members, to be appointed equally by the president and congressional leaders in both parties. The president and those leaders would appoint the chairman jointly. The committee would have to hold at least three field hearings over its 18-month lifespan. A broader House bill, H.R. 583, also would examine privacy practices in the private sector and would give the majority party more input on the commission.
S. 915, IRS Refund Accessibility Act Sponsor: Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Introduced: May 21, 2001 Committee: Senate Finance Description: S. 915 would allow the IRS to post on its Web site the names of taxpayers who are entitled to undelivered tax refunds. A House companion bill, H.R. 1443, also was introduced.
S. 1014, Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act Sponsor: Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky. Introduced: June 12, 2001 Committee: Senate Finance Description: S. 1014 seeks to protect consumers from identity theft by placing restrictions on the use of Social Security numbers. The bill would prohibit the sale of the numbers by both the private sector and the government, and it would ban their display on driver's licenses, vehicle registrations and other identification cards. The legislation also would make it illegal to obtain a person's Social Security number as a means of finding that person to injure him or use his identity for an illegal purpose. Similar measures include S. 324, S. 451 and S. 848.
S. 1055, Privacy Act Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Introduced: June 14, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description: S. 1055 would set a national privacy standard that combines the "opt in" and "opt out" approaches to privacy, treats online and offline collection of personal information equally and prohibits states from passing stricter privacy laws. Under the bill, companies could not divulge "sensitive personal information" such as financial or health information without prior consent, but they could share such details as consumers' phone numbers and addresses unless they are asked not to do so. Among other things, the measure also would: require companies to disclose how they use their customers' information; prohibit companies from refusing to do business with consumers who object to information-sharing; guarantee consumers "reasonable access" to the information that is collected about them; and create a "safe harbor" for firms that use "privacy seal" programs with opt-out information policies. Consumers could sue for up to $10,000 for each violation. A similar House bill, H.R. 2135, was introduced.
S. 1164, Location Privacy Protection Act Sponsor: Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. Introduced: July 11, 2001 Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Description: S. 1164 would require wireless technology providers to notify their customers about their policies on collecting call-location information and obtain prior consent before disclosing or selling such data. Under the measure, businesses that gather location data would have to let people know what information has been assembled, provide a way to correct errors and safeguard the data against unauthorized access.
S. 1319, 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act Sponsor: Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. Introduced: Aug. 2, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description: S. 1319 would authorize Justice Department spending in fiscal 2002. The bill, which would separately authorize the department's programs for the first time since 1981, is based on companion bill, H.R. 2215, already passed by the House and largely mirrors President Bush's spending request for Justice. One key tech-related provision in the legislation would require the attorney general and the FBI director to file annual reports on the use of the Internet surveillance system formerly known as Carnivore and on any related technology. The measure also would authorize $10 million for investigating and prosecuting intellectual property crimes, including software piracy. Bush had not requested that money.
S. 1399, Identity Theft Prevention Act Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Introduced: Sept. 4, 2001 Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Description: S. 1399 would impose new rules on credit-card companies and credit bureaus in an effort to curtail identity theft. The legislation would require all new credit-card machines to print only the last five digits of a consumer's card number on receipts. Existing machines also would have to be reprogrammed by 2006. The bill would require credit bureaus to alert credit issuers when someone applies for a new credit card under an address that is different from the one in the bureau's file, and it would codify the industry practice of placing fraud alerts on consumers' files.
S. 1400, Untitled Sponsor: Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. Introduced: Sept. 4, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Final Action:Passed by the Senate Description: S. 1400 would extend for one year the deadline for requiring aliens to present a border-crossing card that contains a digital fingerprint. A 1998 law requires Mexicans who frequently cross the U.S.-Mexico border to carry such cards, but bill sponsor Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., said the deadline needs to be extended because the State Department is not yet ready to implement the program. Three related bills -- S. 1489, S. 1490 and S. 1491 -- also were introduced.
S. 1429, Airport and Seaport Terrorism Prevention Act Sponsor: Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. Introduced: Sept. 17, 2001 Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Description: S. 1429 seeks to improve security at airports and seaports. The bill would require airports to maximize the use of "non-intrusive" technologies to screen passengers, baggage and cargo. One goal would be to identify chemical, biological and other potentially hazardous substances. The measure also would require that air-traffic controllers and other personnel use biometric identifiers to access key areas. And it would authorize grants to foster the use of video cameras, biometric technology, X-rays and radiation monitors at seaports.
S. 1447, Aviation Security Act Sponsor: Sen. Ernest (Fritz) Hollings, D-S.C. Introduced: Sept. 21, 2001 Committee: Not referred to committee Description: S. 1447 is an omnibus measure that seeks to improve airport security. Among other things, the bill would require airline officials to electronically transmit lists containing the names, birth dates and other information on all passengers and crew on each U.S. flight. It also seeks to ensure the adequacy of the computer-assisted passenger pre-screening system, and the measure would require airlines to use the most secure computer technology available. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration would have to create pilot programs to test biometrics and other security technology. President Bush signed the legislation into law Nov. 19, 2001.
S. 1448, Intelligence to Prevent Terrorism Act Sponsor: Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla. Introduced: Sept. 21, 2001 Committee: Senate Intelligence Description: S. 1448 seeks to enhance the intelligence-gathering capabilities of the federal government in an attempt to prevent terrorism. The bill includes a section on electronic surveillance that would broaden the data-collection authority of foreign intelligence officials to put them on par with the authority of domestic law enforcement. It also would allow federal law enforcement agencies to share with the CIA any foreign intelligence they may gather during their own probes. President Bush signed the House companion measure, H.R. 2883, into law on Dec. 28, 2001.
S. 1452, Untitled Sponsor: Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. Introduced: Sept. 21, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description: S. 1452 would require the attorney general and FBI director to give the State Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) access to criminal history databases. The goal of the bill is to help the State Department and INS identify visa applicants who have criminal histories in an effort to prevent terrorism from abroad. It would require that the information be extracted from the larger crime databases and periodically updated for immigration use. A House companion measure, H.R. 2965, was introduced.
S. 1510, Uniting and Strengthening America (USA) Act Sponsor: Sen. Thomas Daschle, D-S.D. Introduced: Oct. 4, 2001 Committee: Not referred to committee Description: S. 1510 represents the Senate Democratic leadership's proposal for combating terrorism. The omnibus bill encompasses proposals for expanding the powers of law enforcement officials, preventing money laundering and securing the nation's borders, among other things. It would expand law enforcers' authority to tap telephones and intercept e-mail communications of suspected terrorists. The measure also would allow courts to grant the police search warrants for collecting electronic evidence nationwide. Other technology-related language within the legislation would: foster coordination among federal agencies such as the CIA and FBI that conduct electronic surveillance; require the Secret Service to create a network of task forces on electronic crime; authorize money for improving the technology of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and Customs Service; and create an electronic system for crosschecking visa applications with federal criminal records.
S. 1618, Enhanced Border Security Act Sponsor: Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. Introduced: Nov. 1, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description: S. 1618 is an omnibus measure that seeks to enhance U.S. border security. The bill would require law enforcement and intelligence agencies to share information on potential terrorists with the State Department and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). It also would use technology to track foreign students as they travel the nation, and to check immigrants' palm prints at airports and borders. And the measure would authorize the State Department to raise fees through the use of machine-readable visas and use the funds to improve technology at U.S. ports. Other technology-related provisions would: give more direction to the INS on establishing an automated exit/entry control system for foreign visitors; require airlines to electronically transmit to law enforcement the passenger and crew lists for all flights arriving in the United States; and fully implement the use of biometric border-crossing cards and the machines to read them. A House companion bill, H.R. 3205, and a related Senate measure, S. 1627, were introduced.
S. 1627, Visa Entry Reform Act Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Introduced: Nov. 1, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description: S. 1627 seeks to enhance U.S. border security. The bill would connect law enforcement with a centralized database, upgrade technologies used to prevent fraud and illegal entry by immigrants, and impose new restrictions on student visas to prevent misuse of the program. It also would require airlines to electronically transmit passenger and crew information to U.S. authorities so they could crosscheck the names against criminal databases. A House companion bill, H.R. 3229, also was introduced, as were competing measures, S. 1618 and H.R. 3205.
S. 1742, Restore Your Identity Act Sponsor: Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. Introduced: Nov. 29, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Final Action:Passed by the Senate Description: S. 1742 is omnibus legislation designed to prevent identity theft and protect consumers from the costs of it. Among other things, the bill would: require businesses to give victims of identity theft free copies of records that could serve as evidence of fraud, and to strike from consumers' credit reports information related to ID theft; allow businesses to sue ID thieves under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO); and require a government analysis of ways to prevent identity theft by terrorists. The measure -- modeled after a law enacted earlier this year in Washington state, the home of bill sponsor Maria Cantwell, a Democrat -- also would allow consumers to sue companies that disclose their credit histories up to two years after discovering the infractions. Related bills on that topic, H.R. 3368, H.R. 3369 and H.R. 3387, also were introduced. All were filed in reaction to a Nov. 13, 2001, Supreme Court ruling on identity theft.
S. 1747, Untitled Sponsor: Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa Introduced: Nov. 29, 2001 Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Description: S. 1747 seeks to protect Americans from the threat of bioterrorism. Among other things, the $4 billion authorization bill would: take steps to improve surveillance and the information-sharing capacity of agencies involved in combating bioterrorism; create a nationwide inventory and tracking system of hazardous pathogens such as anthrax and smallpox; and upgrade security at labs that handle pathogens. The measure also would expand the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Health Alert Network (http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/han/), whose mission includes full Internet connectivity for state and local health departments. In late October 2001, a commission headed by and named after Virginia Gov. James Gilmore recommended that the federal government provide enough funds to fully implement the network.
S. 1749, Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act Sponsor: Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. Introduced: Nov. 30, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description: S. 1749 would create new restrictions on visa holders and mandate reforms in immigration agencies. The bill would authorize $150 million to improve INS technology, and bolster security and screening procedures at borders and U.S. ports. It also would mandate new requirements for tracking foreign students and creating identification systems, and it would require law enforcement and intelligence agencies to make their data systems interoperable. A House companion measure, H.R. 3525, was introduced, as were other similar measures, S. 1618, S. 1627 and H.R. 3205.
S. 1928, Untitled Sponsor: Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn. Introduced: Feb. 11, 2002 Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Description: S. 1928 would require consumers to give written consent before their telecommunications providers could share personal information. Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., introduced the bill after Qwest Communications announced plans to share such information among its corporate divisions without consumer consent. Qwest later reversed that decision, but Wellstone expressed concern that the FCC, under the language of the 1934 Communications Act, still could allow telecom firms to share "customer proprietary network information."
S. 2137, Family Privacy and Security Act Sponsor: Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. Introduced: April 16, 2002 Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Description: S. 2137 would make it a federal crime to videotape someone engaged in sexual activity without the person's consent. Violators would face three years in jail if the victim were an adult and 10 if it were a minor. The bill also would create an Internet domain name for material that might be harmful to minors and require site operators to use that domain name. Finally, it would require e-mails to minors that include sexual content to be labeled as such.
S. 2201, Online Personal Privacy Act Sponsor: Sen. Ernest (Fritz) Hollings, D-S.C. Introduced: April 18, 2002 Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Description: S. 2201 aims to protect privacy on the Internet by forcing online companies to provide more safeguards and notice about personal information they may be collecting from consumers. It would divide personal information into two categories: sensitive information -- including health and financial information, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, race, political affiliation, and Social Security number -- and non-sensitive information. The bill would require Web sites to post clear, prominent notices of their privacy policies and would forbid sites from collecting sensitive information unless consumers directly "opt in" to such a system. Although non-sensitive information could be collected unless consumers take steps to "opt out," sites would have to provide "robust" notice when data actually is collected data. Companies also would have to give individuals access to the data collected about them. The FTC could take action against companies that fail to meet the standards or provide adequate security for personal information on their sites. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved the bill on May 17.
S. 2492, Federal Agency Protection of Privacy Act Sponsor: Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga. Introduced: May 9, 2002 Committee: Senate Governmental Affairs Description: S. 2492 would require federal agencies to analyze the potential effect that any new regulations might have on personal privacy when they circulate the proposed regulations for public comment. Following public comment, agencies would have to change proposed regulations to increase privacy and review all rules every 10 years to determine if their impact on personal privacy could be lessened. The bill aims to prevent any privacy violations through such mediums as the Internet or surveillance cameras. A House companion bill, H.R. 4561, was introduced.
S. 2629, Federal Privacy and Data Protection Policy Act Sponsor: Sen. Thomas Daschle, D-S.D. Introduced: June 17, 2002 Committee: Senate Governmental Affairs Description: S. 2629 seeks to ensure the privacy of personal information collected by government agencies. The bill would require agencies to appoint privacy managers to ensure that they comply with privacy policies. Agencies also would have to assess their policies within one year of the bill's enactment and would have to schedule independent reviews of the policies every three years. The analyses would have to be made available to the public over each agency's Web site.
S. 2839, Children's Electronic Access Safety Enhancement (CEASE) Act Sponsor: Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga. Introduced: Aug. 1, 2002 Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Description: S. 2839 seeks to provide greater privacy protection to children who use school or library computers that employ Internet filtering services. The bill would require companies that provide the filters to notify the schools and libraries that use them of their policies for sharing information collected on Internet users. The firms also would have to provide notice before changing their policies, and failure to provide such notice could result in fines and the termination of contracts. Schools and libraries would have to tell parents about the filtering companies' privacy policies.
S. 2846, Security and Liberty Preservation Act Sponsor: Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. Introduced: Aug. 1, 2002 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description: S. 2846 would establish a commission to evaluate the technologies used to fight crime and protect national security. The 17-member panel would consist of representatives of the federal government and would report its findings to the president and Congress 18 months after its initial meeting. The commission would study technologies used for Internet surveillance, data mining, body scans and biometric identifiers, among others.
S. 3064, Health Records Confidentiality Act Sponsor: Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. Introduced: Oct. 7, 2002 Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Description: S.3064 would make it illegal for pharmacies, insurance companies and other health entities to look at private, patient health data in order to send those patients marketing materials on drugs that treat their ailments. Under current rules established in August, pharmacies can search their databases for patients using a specific drug and send them unsolicited advertisements on behalf of a drug maker for an alternate drug, regardless of whether this drug is more effective or affordable. The consumers, however, do not have a say in whether they want to receive the solicitations. The bill would require the health entities to notify consumers of their marketing agreements and practices and obtain permission from consumers before sending unsolicited materials. A House companion bill, H.R. 5646, also was introduced.
S. 3100, Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Introduced: Oct. 10, 2002 Committee: Not referred to committee Description: S. 3100 seeks to limit the misuse of Social Security numbers. The bill would make it illegal to display the numbers on the Internet or by other means without direct consent from the people identified by the numbers, and it would limit the right of companies to request Social Security numbers as a means of identification. The same standard would apply to selling or purchasing the numbers. Exemptions to the rules would cover such purposes as health care, national security, law enforcement and fraud prevention. Social Security numbers also would have to be removed from some public records posted to the Internet.
S. 3107, Driver's License Fraud Prevention Act Sponsor: Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. Introduced: Oct. 10, 2002 Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Description: S. 3107 is designed to improve the databases involving state-issued driver's licenses. A similar measure, H.R. 4633, sparked privacy concerns and was characterized as an initiative that would create a national identification card. But an aide to Senate bill sponsor Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said it "is pretty narrowly crafted to improve the process at which licenses are issued."
