[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 10, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2389-S2390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Booker):
  S. 1108. A bill to direct the Federal Trade Commission to require 
entities that use, store, or share personal information to conduct 
automated decision system impact assessments and data protection impact 
assessments; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I, along with my colleague Senator 
Booker of New Jersey, are introducing the Algorithmic Accountability 
Act. This bill is a critical first step to address the use of biased or 
discriminatory algorithmic decisions impacting American consumers. It 
is a bicameral effort, led in the House of Representatives by 
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, vice chair of the Energy and Commerce 
Committee.
  Today's biggest companies are increasingly using algorithms to make 
decisions about consumers. The use by companies of algorithms can often 
benefit consumers, and these technologies have been critical in the 
creation of thousands of American companies. Alongside this beneficial 
proliferation, algorithms have become entrenched in the most life-
changing of decisions. Algorithms can now determine whether Americans 
are hired for a dream job, are approved for a home mortgage, or even 
sent to jail.
  But, as history has shown, a win for the corporation is not always a 
win for the consumer. And, in this case, when consumers lose, all too 
often they are a woman or an American of color. Though an innovation 
critical for future growth, algorithms can be as discriminatory as the 
humans they have begun to replace.
  The issue is a simple one: While algorithms come to conclusions based 
on calculations, these calculations are created by humans or use data 
collected and supplied by humans. And, unfortunately, we humans can be 
biased, whether we know it or not, or we can created algorithms that, 
in time, create biases of their own.
  Thanks to a flood of news reports and investigations detailing 
algorithms-gone-wrong, these issues are coming to light. Yet, American 
companies and the U.S. government are doing far too little to assess 
whether their own algorithms depend on biased assumptions, have created 
biases assumptions, and have the effect of increasing discrimination in 
the U.S.
  Senator Booker and I intend to change that by ensuring that today's 
racial, social, and gender biases do not become entrenched in the 
automation of tomorrow.
  Our bill has four main components.
  First, it authorizes the Federal Trade Commission to create 
regulations requiring companies under its jurisdiction to conduct 
impact assessments of highly sensitive algorithms. This requirement 
would apply not only to new algorithmic systems, but also those that 
are both new and already in existence.
  Second, it requires companies to assess their use of algorithms--
including any relevant training data--for impacts on accuracy, 
fairness, bias, discrimination, privacy, and security.
  Third, it requires companies to evaluate how their information 
systems protect the privacy and security of consumers' personal 
information.
  And, finally, it requires companies to correct any issues they 
discover during the impact assessments.
  This legislation is in no way intended to hinder the adoption by 
American companies of advanced technologies like algorithms. Automated 
decision systems are out there, and they are being adopted into 
commercial decision-making processes.
  What we are seeking to do with this bill is to ensure that companies 
take a hard look at their own technologies to ensure that they address 
any unintended side effects.
  Mr. President, it is time for Congress to get involved by requiring 
companies to address biases and unintended discriminatory effects in 
their automated decision systems.
  I thank my colleague Senator Booker for his efforts on this bill, and 
I hope the Senate will promptly consider and pass this critical 
legislation.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Gilibrand, and Mr. 
        Merkley):
  S. 1132. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act and the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make improvements in the old-age, 
survivors, and disability insurance program, and to provide for Social 
Security benefit protection; to the Committee on Finance.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to express my 
support for the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act, which I 
was proud to reintroduce earlier this afternoon with Senators Smith, 
Gillibrand and Merkley, and Congressman Deutch--who introduced the bill 
in the House.
  Social Security serves as a critical lifeline for millions of 
individuals and families in Hawaii and throughout the United States. 
For seniors, the program is fundamental to retirement security, and for 
families, it provides economic security. Countless individuals rely on 
Social Security as a key source of income, so we must continue fighting 
to protect the program and make sure beneficiaries receive the hard-
earned benefits they deserve. The Protecting and Preserving Social 
Security Act does two things.
  First, the bill restores fairness in Social Security payroll taxes by 
eliminating the contribution cap on taxable income--gradually, over 
seven years.
  What does this mean? Currently, most Americans contribute 6.2 percent 
of their incomes toward Social Security payroll taxes. However, because 
of the contribution cap on taxable income, higher income earners will 
stop contributing to Social Security after their first $132,900 of 
income for 2019. This means that many working and middle class families 
will contribute more of their income toward Social Security, while 
wealthy families will contribute less.
  In fact, for the highest income earners, those in the ``top 1 
percent'', this week marks the point in the year when they will stop 
contributing to the program altogether for 2019. That does not seem 
fair, so our bill makes sure that everyone contributes their fair share 
to Social Security for the entire year, and that the wealthiest 
individuals and families in our country do not receive a tax break at 
the expense of working and middle class families.
  Second, the bill provides an updated measure of inflation to reflect 
what seniors and other beneficiaries actually pay for things like 
medical care, prescription drugs, and energy costs, and increases their 
benefits based on this measure. The Social Security Administration has 
indicated that these changes, taken together, would increase Social 
Security benefits and extend the life of the combined Social Security 
trust fund by another 19 years--from 2034 to 2053.
  These are modest but important steps that we can take to improve the 
program for current and future beneficiaries.
  Locally in Hawaii, we recognize that whatever hurts the most 
vulnerable in our communities, hurts all of us. We each have a role to 
play in supporting our communities. That is why my colleagues and I 
have reintroduced this legislation to strengthen Social Security. We 
will continue fighting for working and middle class families who rely 
on Social Security and similar programs, and we will continue to oppose 
cuts to Social Security--which would be devastating for millions of 
Americans. We will continue fighting to make sure everyone contributes 
their fair share so that Social Security can deliver on its promise to 
the American people.
  I thank my colleagues for joining me in reintroducing this important 
legislation as we continue our work to strengthen Social Security. I 
yield the floor.

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