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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued a Request for Information (RFI), inviting stakeholders to share their insights and suggestions with the newly-formed data privacy working group . KEY EXCERPTS: “The United States digital economy adds $2.6 trillion in value and employs millions of American workers across nearly every sector of the broader economy. Leadership in digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, underpins U.S. economic and national security, provides American consumers with access to lower cost goods and services, and enables small businesses to reach markets around the world.   “However, the challenge of providing clear digital protections for Americans is compounded by the fast pace of technological advancement and the complex web of state and federal data privacy and security laws, which in some cases create conflicting legal requirements.” […]  “The working group is bringing members and stakeholders together to explore the parameters of a federal comprehensive data privacy and security framework.”  […] “To inform the working group’s efforts, we invite stakeholders to provide written responses to the prompts below. Stakeholders should submit their responses to PrivacyWorkingGroup@mail.house.gov no later than April 7, 2025. We request that written responses be no longer than 3,500 words and be provided as a Word document and a PDF. Supplemental data, reports, and case studies are also welcome.” The RFI’s requests and questions include: I. Roles and Responsibilities  The digital economy includes a wide range of business models, including entities that collect information directly from consumers, those that process personal information on another business’s behalf, and others that collate and sell personal information.  A.  How can a federal comprehensive data privacy and security law account for different roles in the digital economy (e.g., controllers, processors, and third parties) in a way that effectively protects consumers?   B.   What are appropriate obligations for different regulated entities, and what are the practical and legal limitations associated with each type of entity?  C.   Should a comprehensive data privacy and security law take into consideration an entity’s size, and any accompanying protections, exclusions, or obligations?  II. Personal Information, Transparency, and Consumer Rights  A federal comprehensive data privacy and security law should apply to personally identifiable information and provide consumers with clear disclosures and rights to their personal information.   A.  Please describe the appropriate scope of such a law, including definitions of “personal information” and “sensitive personal information.”   B.   What disclosures should consumers be provided with regard to the collection, processing, and transfer of their personal information and sensitive personal information?   C.   Please identify consumer protections that should be included in a comprehensive data privacy and security law. What considerations are relevant to how consumers enforce these protections and how businesses comply with related requirements?  D.  What heightened protections should attach to the collection, processing, and transfer of sensitive personal information?  III. Existing Privacy Frameworks & Protections  Since 2016, U.S. trading partners and a growing number of states have enacted comprehensive data privacy and security laws to govern the collection, processing, and transfer of personal information.   A.  Please provide any insights learned from existing comprehensive data privacy and security laws that may be relevant to the working group’s efforts, including these frameworks’ efficacy at protecting consumers and impacts on both data-driven innovation and small businesses.  B.   Please describe the degree to which U.S. privacy protections are fragmented at the state-level and the costs associated with fragmentation, including uneven rights for consumers and costs to businesses and innovators.   C.   Given the proliferation of state requirements, what is the appropriate degree of preemption that a federal comprehensive data privacy and security law should adopt?   D.  How should a federal comprehensive privacy law account for existing federal and state sectoral laws (e.g., HIPAA, FCRA, GLBA, COPPA)?  IV. Data Security  A foundational goal for any federal comprehensive privacy law should be increased security of Americans’ personal information.   A.  How can such a law improve data security for consumers? What are appropriate requirements to place on regulated entities?  V. Artificial Intelligence  Most state comprehensive data privacy and security laws regulate AI through “automated decision-making” requirements. A growing number of states are also enacting—or are seeking to enact—additional AI-specific laws. These developments raise questions about the role of privacy and consumer protection standards in AI regulation and the impact on U.S. AI leadership.    A.  How should a federal comprehensive data privacy and security law account for state-level AI frameworks, including requirements related to automated decision-making?  VI. Accountability & Enforcement  Accountability and enforcement are cornerstones of a data privacy and security regime that protects consumers, promotes compliance, and enables data-driven innovation.   A.  Please identify the benefits and costs of expert agencies retaining sole authority to enforce a federal comprehensive data privacy and security law.   B.   What expertise, legal authorities, and resources are available—or should be made available—to the Federal Trade Commission and state Attorneys General for enforcing such a law?   C.   How could a safe harbor be beneficial or harmful in promoting compliance with obligations related to data privacy and security?  VII. Additional Information  We welcome any additional information that may be relevant to the working group as it develops a comprehensive data privacy and security law.   CLICK HERE  for the full Request for Information.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, announced a hearing titled  An Examination of  How Reining in PBMs Will Drive Competition and Lower Costs for Patients . “As outlined in recent reports, significant consolidation in the PBM marketplace has led to fewer options for patients and employers and less competition to keep out-of-pocket drug costs in check,”  said Chairmen Guthrie and Carter.   “Over the past few years, this Subcommittee has led on a myriad of legislative solutions which will help guide our continued work toward delivering high quality heath care for the American people.” Subcommittee on Health hearing titled  An Examination of How Reining in PBMs Will Drive Competition and Lower Costs for Patients . WHAT: Subcommittee on Health hearing to examine PBM reform policies.  DATE:  Wednesday, February 26, 2025  TIME: 10:00 AM ET  LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction of the Chairmen. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at  energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Emma Schultheis with the Committee staff at  Emma.Schultheis@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Christopher Krepich at Christopher.Krepich@mail.house.gov .  ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement after Howard Lutnick was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Secretary of the Department of Commerce: “As our country confronts the challenges of competing on the global stage, the Department of Commerce plays a central role in promoting American leadership in AI and other cutting-edge technologies, along with closing the digital divide and utilizing the full range of communicationstechnologies,”   said Chairman Guthrie .  “Howard Lutnick is the right person to run the Commerce Department and help American businesses succeed. I look forward to working with Secretary Lutnick to jumpstart our economy and execute President Trump’s agenda to lift up all Americans.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations, announced the first hearing of the 119th Congress for the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations titled  Examining the Biden Administration’s Energy and Environment Spending Push .  “In its final months, the Biden-Harris Administration handed out billions of dollars in energy and environment grants and loans at an unprecedented pace, exacerbating concerns that appropriate vetting and due diligence reviews may not have occurred for some of these awards,”  said Chairmen Guthrie and Palmer.   “This hearing will provide an opportunity for the Committee to examine this surge in spending and help identify potential misuse of federal funds.”    Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing titled  Examining the Biden Administration’s Energy and Environment Spending Push .  WHAT: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing examining Biden-Harris Administration energy and environment spending. DATE: Wednesday, February 26, 2025     TIME: 10:30 AM ET  LOCATION: 2322 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Calvin Huggins at Calvin.Huggins1@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Zach Bannon at Zach.Bannon@mail.house.gov .  ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, released the following statement on the formation of the National Energy Dominance Council, led by Secretary Wright and Secretary Burgum. “Energy security is national security. By utilizing our domestic energy resources to create baseload power, we can lower prices, secure our grid, and provide the energy needed to grow manufacturing, heat our homes, and fill our gas tanks,” said Chairman Guthrie . “The creation of this council under the leadership of Secretary Wright and Secretary Burgum is a strong step toward securing our energy future, and ensuring we have the resources necessary to meet the demands that AI will place on our grid. President Trump is continuing to fulfill his promise to the American people to return our nation to energy dominance, and I look forward to working together to achieve that goal.”   ### 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing titled AI in Manufacturing: Securing American Leadership in Manufacturing and the Next Generation of Technologies . “The manufacturing sector is crucial to the American economy as it spurs job creation, supports innovation, and contributes significantly to GDP. The manufacturing sector also plays a key role in exporting goods and ensuring global competitiveness. The industry faces new opportunities as it fully embraces the potential of artificial intelligence applications that improve efficiency through automation, optimize supply chains, and enhance product quality,"   said Chairman Bilirakis .  "Yesterday's CMT hearing provided thoughtful insight as to how this sector of the American economy can utilize AI technologies to ensure America’s continued dominance in the field by further streamlining operations and increasing domestic manufacturing. We look forward to working with the administration and industry to that harnesses this potential.” Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from yesterday’s hearing: Subcommittee Vice Chairman Russ Fulcher (ID-01): “Manufacturing is the core of our economy. It contributes to more applications, is more sophisticated, and operates in a highly competitive environment with countries like China. China's manufacturing value-add and contribution to global GDP continues to outpace the United States and China produces more goods in the US in 9 of the top 11 manufacturing industries. But the US could outcompete and outperform China or any other country if we fully utilize our technologies, resources, and personnel…We need to learn how AI can help improve the production process, empowering the line worker to catch defects, innovate processes, and improve safety.” Congressman John James (MI-10): “I recognize the grand opportunity that we have in front of us to pass real, substantive policy to benefit the American people as it pertains to AI and manufacturing. If we don't lead in AI, the Chinese Communist Party will have all the brain power because they've stolen our IP, and they will have all the manpower because they're using slave labor to end Western civilization without firing a shot. It's simply not enough to close our eyes and hope for the best.” Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “Back home in my district, in Florence, South Carolina, GE Healthcare manufactures some of the best MRI machines and systems in the world. These systems are used to provide a high-quality patient care in the US and around the world. And they leverage AI to enhance imaging speed and quality, helping doctors make faster and more accurate diagnoses. But AI's impact extends far beyond just healthcare. It is improving forecasting, planning, and process optimization at GE healthcare is manufacturing facilities, ensuring efficiency from the production line to the supply chain.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement after Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services:  “Americans deserve a health care system that empowers them to be healthy and prioritizes better outcomes. With rising obesity rates, concerning levels of chronic disease, an ongoing drug epidemic, and financially strained programs, we must embrace commonsense approaches to address the root causes of increasing costs, curb the flow of illicit substances flowing into our communities, and foster cutting-edge innovation,”   said Chairman Guthrie .  “I congratulate Secretary Kennedy on his confirmation and look forward to working with him to improve the health and wellbeing of the American people.”  ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled  AI in Manufacturing: Securing American Leadership in Manufacturing and the Next Generation of Technologies. Subcommittee Chairman Griffith's opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Good morning everyone and welcome to the first Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee hearing of the 119th Congress. I’d like to express my sincere congratulations to my good friend, the Chair, Mr. Guthrie, on his appointment to the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee – the oldest standing legislative committee in the House, and the best Committee in Congress. “I also want to thank the Chair for putting his faith in me to lead this important subcommittee, which has broad jurisdiction over a great many important matters. This will be a busy Congress and I’m excited to lay the groundwork to accomplish a robust legislative agenda. “I would be remiss if I didn’t identify and welcome to this wonderful panel the new members of the Energy and Commerce Committee: “Mr. Bentz from Oregon; Ms. Houchin from Indiana; Mr. Fry from South Carolina; Ms. Lee from Florida – and I’ll add a Go Gators to you my friend; Mr. Kean from New Jersey; Mr. Evans from Colorado; and Mr. Goldman from Texas. “I also want to thank my friend Russ Fulcher from the great State of Idaho for serving as the Vice Chair of this Subcommittee. “And finally, it is good to be sitting next to my friend, Ms. Schakowsky from Illinois. I’m greatly looking forward to working with you again, and all of the Members of this Subcommittee.” Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing “Now onto the business at hand. I’m excited to kick this Congress off with an educational hearing examining the state of American manufacturing, and how it can be revolutionized with the use of artificial intelligence. “We know generative AI is currently dominating the headlines for its specific use case of AI, such as how DeepSeek is capturing warranted attention with their collection of American’s personal data and subsequently sharing it with the Chinese Communist Party. “But I think we must remember that generative AI is only a specific use case of this technology, and AI’s applications are much broader than what has claimed the spotlight recently. We have seen how AI applied to vehicles is paving the way for the next generation of vehicles that will drive themselves. These autonomous vehicles promise to greatly improve auto safety and provide vast mobility benefits to every American – including those with disabilities. “We have also seen how the technology holds the power to completely revolutionize American manufacturing and bolster our supply chains.  By integrating AI and machine learning into supply chain systems, we can better predict constraints and find potential weak points which can be used to prevent shocks that disrupt entire industries. “Our committee has led on supply chain mapping and monitoring legislation before, and empowering companies to deploy emerging technologies like AI to better understand our supply chains could help us protect against the next pandemic or the next major labor shortage. We need to send that legislation to the President’s desk to begin the important work of making America more resilient. “Industries can also utilize the power of AI in our manufacturing ecosystems to find where redundancies exist and reduce waste in the developmental pipeline. To bring this country back to the forefront of what made it great, we need to reduce unnecessary waste and optimize our building capabilities. We know the American people are the most innovative in the world. Our job here in Congress will be to provide a pathway for these innovators to succeed. “America’s global leadership in the 21st century will be contingent on our ability to promote emerging technologies and establishing a pathway to unleash them throughout American manufacturing. We have a great panel of witnesses today to share examples of how AI is actively being used in manufacturing and supply chains. “I want to thank them for being here today amidst the bad weather to give us much needed testimony on such an important topic. I yield back.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, announced the establishment of a comprehensive data privacy working group and issued the following statement: “We strongly believe that a national data privacy standard is necessary to protect Americans’ rights online and maintain our country’s global leadership in digital technologies, including artificial intelligence. That’s why we are creating this working group, to bring members and stakeholders together to explore a framework for legislation that can get across the finish line,”  said Chairman Guthrie and Vice Chairman Joyce.   “The need for comprehensive data privacy is greater than ever, and we are hopeful that we can start building a strong coalition to address this important issue.” The working group welcomes input from a broad range of stakeholders. Stakeholders interested in engaging with the working group can reach out to  PrivacyWorkingGroup@mail.house.gov  for more information. Background: The working group will be led by Dr. Joyce, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The working group will also include: Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09) Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12) Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23) Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) Congressman Tom Kean (NJ-07) Congressman Craig Goldman (TX-12) Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (ND-AL)   ###