The Subcommittees on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, chaired by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), and Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), have scheduled a joint hearing for Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 10:00 a.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled, “Examining the EU Safe Harbor Decision and Impacts for Transatlantic Data Flows."
The safe harbor agreement that allowed for consumer data to be transferred between the United States and the European Union was recently nullified by the European Court of Justice. With over 4,000 American businesses, including those in technology, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, and retail, relying on the agreement, members will review the uncertainty generated by the court’s decision and review the administration’s work to finalize a new framework with their European counterparts.
“The importance of cross-border data flows for jobs in both the U.S. and EU cannot be overstated. The free flow of data allows small and medium sized businesses to reach a global audience in a way that was not possible just a few years ago," said Burgess and Walden. “It is encouraging to see both the administration and their European counterparts working on a solution and we urge all parties to stay at the table to reach a sustainable agreement as soon as possible. This uncertainty is not necessary and doesn’t help either side of the Atlantic."
The Majority Memorandum, a witness list, and witness testimony will be available here as they are posted.
