Online Protection
As more and more consumer activity moves to the Internet, we have a responsibility to protect the personal information of the public. I have been a strong supporter of efforts to safeguard personal information and an opponent of legislation that would threaten civil liberties in cyberspace.
While employers, schools, and colleges have always been interested in the social networking content posted by their employees, students, and applicants, they have only recently begun to demand password and other login information as a term or enrollment or employment. I have introduced legislation that would restrict the ability of employers and schools from requiring such personal information.
As a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I have had an opportunity to actively engage in American intelligence policymaking and oversight.
Legislation I've Introduced
Social Networking Online Protection Act (SNOPA) - Congressman Elliot Engel and I introduced the Social Networking Online Protection Act (SNOPA), which would restrict employers, universities, and local education authorities from requiring the disclosure of personal account information by employees, students, or applicants. SNOPA will ensure that personal accounts remain private, and I am working to see bipartisan legislation signed into law.
More on Online Protection
Last week, Republicans on the House Budget Committee hosted a hearing centered around the idea of creating a so-called “fiscal commission.” The hearing made it crystal clear what their real goal is: decimate Social Security and Medicare behind closed doors. Over a decade ago, I served on the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, better known as the Bowles-Simpson Commission. That commission failed, but not before its co-chairs tried to make deep cuts to the American people’s hard-earned Social Security and Medicare benefits.
Parents have an expectation that the products they purchase around their home and for their children are safe, but unfortunately, that is not always the case. Last year, 100 children’s products were recalled, the highest number since 2013.
As the Ranking Member of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over consumer protection issues, I will continue fighting to keep dangerous products, like water beads and button batteries, out of kids' hands.
Sensitive information consumers never chose to disclose – like their behavior, medical history, or sexual orientation – has been put up for auction, literally. I introduced legislation to help safeguard consumers online. For too long, online platforms have used surveillance advertising to capitalize on consumers’ private information. My bill removes the financial incentive for companies to exploit consumers' personal information.
On our first day back in Washington, what did Kevin McCarthy decide to do? Call for a baseless impeachment inquiry to appease the MAGA extremists. Meanwhile, I am working to ensure that our government does not shut down. The lives of Americans are not a game.
As a longtime consumer advocate, I have worked very closely with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which is tasked with keeping the public safe from consumer products that pose an unreasonable risk of injury or death. In addition to its own work, the CPSC relies on online marketplaces, like Meta, to keep consumers safe by preventing the posting for sale of products that are known to be dangerous.
In an increasingly digitized world, protecting consumers must be a top priority. Last month, I spoke at the White House to help launch the U.S. Cybersecurity Labeling Program for Consumer Technology, a crucial initiative that will protect Americans from cyberattacks by creating a safety label for devices that meet government cybersecurity standards. This label, the Cyber Trust Mark, will help consumers make informed purchasing decisions and incentivize manufacturers to meet higher cybersecurity standards, thus making our country more secure.