Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today following the passage of six consumer protection bills during a full Committee markup.
“Today, the Energy and Commerce Committee passed six bipartisan consumer protection bills that will help keep Americans safe, strengthen our economy, and protect the data privacy and security of all Americans.
“I’m pleased the Committee advanced bills that protect children from dangerous household products and bolster American manufacturing. The Committee also passed the bipartisan, bicameral American Data Privacy and Protection Act that puts people back in control of their data. I’m thankful to Committee Members for their work on these important bills and look forward to continuing to work together to advance them to the House floor.”
The Committee favorably reported the following bills:
H.R. 8152, the "American Data Privacy and Protection Act," was introduced by Pallone, full Committee Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Consumer Protection and Commerce Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Bilirakis. The bill provides consumers with foundational data privacy rights, creates strong oversight mechanisms, and establishes meaningful enforcement. The bill was passed, as amended, by a vote of 53-2.
H.R. 3962, the “Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of 2021,” was introduced by Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) and 32 original bipartisan cosponsors. This bill allows a notary public commissioned under state law to remotely notarize electronic records and perform notarizations for remotely located individuals. The bill was passed, as amended, by a vote of 56-0.
H.R. 4081, the “Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act,” was introduced by Reps. John Curtis (R-UT) and Seth Moulton (D-MA). This bill requires manufacturers of internet-connected devices that are equipped with a camera or microphone to disclose to consumers that a camera or microphone is part of the device. The bill was passed by a vote of 53-0.
H.R.4551, the “Reporting Attacks from Nations Selected for Oversight and Monitoring Web Attacks and Ransomware from Enemies Act” or the “RANSOMWARE Act,” was introduced by Consumer Protection and Commerce Ranking Member Gus Bilirakis (R-FL). This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission to report on cross-border complaints received that involve ransomware or other cyber-related attacks committed by certain foreign individuals, companies, and governments. The bill was passed, as amended, by a vote of 53-0.
H.R. 5313, “Reese’s Law,” was introduced by Reps. Robin Kelly (D-IL), Jodey Arrington (R-TX), and Ted Lieu (D-CA). This bill requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish product safety standards with respect to batteries, such as button cell or coin batteries, that pose an ingestion hazard. The bill was passed, as amended, by a vote of 54-0.
H.R. 6290, the “Manufacturing.gov Act,” was introduced by Reps. Paul Tonko (D-NY), Cindy Axne (D-IA), and Fred Upton (R-MI). This bill requires the Department of Commerce to establish a section of the manufacturing.gov website to serve as the primary hub for information relating to federal manufacturing programs. The bill was passed by a vote of 54-0.
Original source can be found here.
