[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 14 (Monday, January 30, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S173-S174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL DATA PRIVACY DAY

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 358, submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 358) expressing support for the 
     designation of January 28, 2012, as ``National Data Privacy 
     Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any 
statements related to the resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 358) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 358

       Whereas new and innovative technologies enhance our lives 
     by increasing our ability to communicate, learn, share, and 
     produce;
       Whereas integration of new and innovative technologies into 
     our everyday lives has the potential to compromise the 
     privacy of our personal information if appropriate protection 
     is not taken;
       Whereas protecting the privacy of personal information is a 
     global imperative for governments, commerce, civil society, 
     and individuals;
       Whereas many individuals and companies are unaware of the 
     risks to the privacy of personal information posed by new and 
     innovative technologies, of data protection and privacy laws, 
     or of the specific steps they can take to protect the privacy 
     of personal information;
       Whereas ``National Data Privacy Day'' constitutes an 
     international collaboration and a nationwide effort to 
     educate and raise awareness about data privacy and about 
     protecting the privacy of personal information;
       Whereas the fourth annual recognition of ``National Data 
     Privacy Day'' by Congress would encourage more people 
     nationwide to be aware of data privacy and to protect the 
     privacy of their personal information;
       Whereas government officials and agencies from the United 
     States, Canada, and Europe, as well as representatives of 
     businesses and nonprofit organizations, privacy 
     professionals, academic communities, legal scholars, 
     educators, and others with an interest in data privacy are 
     working together on January 28, 2012, to educate and raise 
     awareness about data privacy and about protecting the privacy 
     of personal information;
       Whereas on January 28, 2012, privacy professionals and 
     educators are being encouraged to discuss data privacy and 
     security with teens and young adults in schools across the 
     United States, and parents are being encouraged to discuss 
     data privacy and security with their children; and
       Whereas January 28, 2012, would be an appropriate day to 
     designate as ``National Data Privacy Day'': Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of January 28, 2012, as 
     ``National Data Privacy Day'';
       (2) encourages State and local governments to observe the 
     day with appropriate activities and initiatives that raise 
     awareness about data privacy;
       (3) encourages privacy professionals and educators to 
     discuss data privacy and security with teens and young adults 
     in schools across the United States;
       (4) encourages corporations to take steps to protect the 
     privacy and security of the personal information of their 
     clients and

[[Page S174]]

     consumers, to design data privacy into products they create 
     wherever possible, and to promote trust in technologies; and
       (5) encourages individuals across the United States to 
     learn about data privacy and the specific steps they can take 
     to protect the privacy of their personal information.

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