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Schakowsky statement on the resignation of Equifax CEO

September 26, 2017

Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection (DCCP) Subcommittee, released the following statement after Equifax CEO Richard Smith resigned in response to the massive data breach that compromised the personal information of 143 million Americans. Richard Smith will be testifying before the DCCP Subcommittee next week. Ranking Member Schakowsky joined every Democratic member of the Energy and Commerce Committee on a letter with detailed questions to Richard Smith regarding how the breach happened, why it took so long to notify consumers, and how Equifax is making things right. Equifax has yet to provide a substantive response. Ranking Member Schakowsky is preparing to reintroduce the Secure and Protect Americans’ Data Act.

“Leadership failures at Equifax contributed both to the breach of 143 million Americans’ data and to the inept response that followed. However, removing high-level executives is not enough. Equifax must explain what steps it is taking to better protect personal information and fix the harm to victims of this latest breach. Congress can help ensure consumers are protected by establishing strong data security standards and requiring prompt notification when data breaches occur.

“American consumers are concerned about what happened and how Equifax is responding. Equifax has not been forthcoming up to this point. My colleagues and I will continue to ask tough questions on consumers’ behalf in our upcoming hearing. It’s time for Equifax to provide the clear, substantive answers that its victims deserve.”