[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 233]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            DATA PRIVACY DAY

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, on January 28, 2012, privacy advocates, 
industry leaders, and government officials from across our Nation will 
celebrate Data Privacy Day 2012. I am pleased to join these 
stakeholders in calling attention to the need to better secure our 
privacy and security in cyberspace.
  In the digital age, our Nation faces the challenge of securing our 
computer networks from cyber threats and cyber crime, while at the same 
time, encouraging innovation and protecting Americans' right to 
privacy. Even as the Internet and other rapidly advancing technologies 
spur economic growth and expand opportunity, there is growing 
uncertainty and unease about how Americans' sensitive personal 
information is collected, shared, and stored. Data Privacy Day provides 
an important reminder about the importance of data privacy.
  After a record year of high-profile data breaches in the private 
sector and throughout government, it is more important than ever that 
Congress step forward and enact meaningful data privacy legislation. As 
the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I continue to work 
toward that goal.
  Last year, I reintroduced comprehensive data privacy legislation that 
will better protect Americans' sensitive personal data and reduce the 
risk of data security breaches. The Personal Data Privacy and Security 
Act would establish a single nationwide standard for data breach 
notification and require that companies that have databases with 
sensitive personal information establish and implement data privacy and 
security programs. This bill would also help law enforcement better 
combat cyber crime by strengthening and clarifying the penalties for 
violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and creating a new 
criminal offense for cyber attacks involving government computers that 
manage critical infrastructure information.
  The Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported this bill in 
September 2011. The committee has previously reported similar 
legislation three times. I urge the 112th Congress to finally enact 
this much needed legislation.
  In the coming weeks, the Senate is expected to consider comprehensive 
cyber security legislation. Protecting our Nation's data from breaches 
is at the very core of a comprehensive strategy for improving cyber 
security. That is why President Obama included a data breach proposal 
that closely mirrors the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act in his 
cyber security proposal to Congress. That is why consumer and privacy 
advocates, business leaders, and Members of Congress on both sides of 
the aisle continue to call for the enactment of data privacy 
legislation. And that is why I will continue work to ensure that 
meaningful data privacy legislation is included in any cyber security 
legislation the Senate considers this year.
  I will also continue the important work that the Judiciary Committee 
began last year to update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 
ECPA, so that our digital privacy laws keep pace with changes in 
technology. Updating this law to reflect the realities of our time is 
essential to keeping us safe from cyber threats.
  Again, I thank and commend the many stakeholders and leaders from 
across the Nation who are holding events to commemorate Data Privacy 
Day. I look forward to working with these stakeholders and with Members 
of Congress on both sides of the aisle and in both Chambers to ensure 
that the right to privacy is ensured in the digital age.

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