Major Privacy Bills Introduced
As expected, major privacy legislation was introduced in both Houses this
week. Yesterday, Representative Cliff Stearns (R-FL) introduced HR 1528, the
"Consumer Privacy Protection Act". It is similar, but not identical, to S
799, the "Commercial Privacy Bill of Rights" introduced earlier by Senators
John Kerry and John McCain.
Both of these bills would provide consumers with the ability to restrict the
collection and sharing of information about them. It will take a concerted
effort by NCISS to protect the interests of private investigators as these
bills go through the legislative process. We will be calling on all of our
members to assist in this effort.
Yesterday, the House Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing
examining identity theft and the relationship to Social Security numbers.
Witnesses from the Social Security Administration and Federal Trade
Commission testified. Subcommittee Chairman Sam Johnson (R-TX) focused on
the use of the SSN on Medicare cards. He introduced HR 1509 yesterday which
would ban the practice. There was some discussion of whether a broader
restriction on the use of the number is necessary, so we must remain
vigilant to make certain the bill is not expanded to restrict access to
information necessary for the conduct of lawful investigations.
Now that Congress has started to actively work on these privacy issues, we
ask that you stand ready to assist us when we issue a call to action. Stay
tuned...
Keeping the profession informed,
|
Jimmie Mesis 
NCISS Legislative Chairman
NCISS
7501 Sparrows Point Blvd.
Baltimore, Maryland 21219-1927
(800) 445-8408 . Fax: (410)
388-9746
jim@nciss.org
________________________________
(Permission granted to repost to other email lists and PI association
newsletters)
|
