Innovation, Data, and Commerce

Subcommittee

Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce

Interstate and foreign commerce, including all trade matters within the jurisdiction of the full committee; consumer protection, including privacy matters generally; data security; motor vehicle safety; regulation of commercial practices (the Federal Trade Commission), including sports-related matters; consumer product safety (the Consumer Product Safety Commission); product liability; and regulation of travel, tourism, and time. The Subcommittee’s jurisdiction can be directly traced to Congress’ constitutional authority “to regulate Commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.”

Subcommittees News & Announcements


Rodgers and Pallone Celebrate House Passage of Legislation to Protect Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries

The legislation would prohibit data brokers from selling Americans’ sensitive personal information to our foreign adversaries Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., (D-NJ) released the following joint statement today after the House passed H.R. 7520, the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 , by a vote of 414 - 0: “Today’s overwhelming vote sends a clear message that we will not allow our adversaries to undermine American national security and individual privacy by purchasing people’s personally identifiable sensitive information from data brokers. H.R. 7520 is another key step towards strengthening data protections and safeguarding our nation from foreign adversaries. “The legislation builds on our efforts in the House last week to pass H.R. 7521—with overwhelming and bipartisan support—and serves as an important complement to more comprehensive national data privacy legislation, which we remain committed to working together on. We're encouraged by today’s strong vote, which should help build momentum to get this important bipartisan legislation, as well as more comprehensive privacy legislation, signed into law this Congress.” Rodgers and Pallone introduced H.R. 7520 earlier this month, and it is cosponsored by Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), as well as Reps. Rick W. Allen (R-GA), and Lori Trahan (D-MA). The bill passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee with a unanimous vote of 50-0. Bill text of H.R. 7520 is available HERE . 



Mar 8, 2024
Press Release

ROUND UP: Chair Rodgers Statements on President Biden’s State of the Union

President Biden spent his State of the Union Address doubling down on his radical, out-of-touch agenda which has caused record inflation, surging energy costs, a crisis at our southern border, and a dangerous reliance on the Chinese Communist Party.  Here’s what Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said on key issues:  On President Biden’s Economic Agenda and its Consequences for the American People : “Bidenomics has failed the American people. From the gas pump to the grocery store, families are seeing rising costs for routine expenses across the board. This is a direct result of President Biden’s failed economic agenda and radical out-of-control spending. To build confidence and prosperity again, we must ease regulatory burdens, strengthen critical American supply chains, unleash American energy, and reverse the Left’s extreme government spending and socialist agenda.”   On President Biden’s Radical Rush-to-Green Agenda:   “Since his first day in office, President Biden has repeatedly shut down American energy production and jobs. Time and again, he has put the interests of radical environmentalists ahead of the best interests of the American people, demonstrated most recently by his decision to ban American LNG exports. We should be embracing America’s energy leadership and building on it, which is why House Republicans have led on solutions to unleash American energy, lower costs, reduce emissions, create jobs, and strengthen our national security. It’s past time for President Biden to reverse his radical rush-to-green agenda—that is driving up costs across the board—and embrace these commonsense solutions that will improve people’s lives and secure our energy future.”   On Biden Making America More Reliant on China:   “China is America’s greatest adversary and poses significant risk to our national and economic security. President Biden has spent his first three years in the White House emboldening the Chinese Communist Party and undermining American leadership. Through his radical rush-to-green policies, like electric vehicle mandates and heavy-handed regulations that crush American manufacturing, the President has ceded our global, competitive edge to our number one adversary. President Biden must abandon his reckless agenda and join Republicans in our efforts to beat China and win the future.”   On Strengthening Americans’ Data Privacy and Security:   “The American people deserve to know that their personal data is protected. While it is encouraging to see President Biden’s recent announcement to crack down on the sale of Americans’ personal data to foreign adversaries, Republicans and Democrats agree the best way to truly secure people’s data is for Congress to pass comprehensive data privacy and security legislation that enacts one national data privacy standard. President Biden must work with Congress to end the patchwork of state privacy laws, protect kids online, and prevent bad actors and foreign adversaries from surveilling and exploiting Americans’ data.” On Biden’s Border Crisis: “President Biden’s border policy has been nothing short of a catastrophic failure. His open-border agenda is unsustainable, irresponsible, and inhumane. “America is less secure today because of President Biden’s border crisis, which he spent three years denying, only to change his tune and attempt to blame Republicans. The American people will not be fooled by his rhetoric and inaction. “Energy and Commerce Republicans toured the border and walked the paths used by the cartels to smuggle migrants and illegal drugs into the United States. We met with border patrol personnel who shared how frustrated they are with this administration’s policies—which are making their jobs nearly impossible. “The President’s failure to secure the border has made every city in the country a border town. Rather than enforcing the laws on the books or taking action that he has acknowledged he has the authority to do, President Biden has bent to the will of his radical, open-borders political base. “This administration should support and pressure the Senate to pass H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, and H.R. 467, the HALT Fentanyl Act, to strengthen our national security and protect Americans from the scourge of deadly drugs pouring across our border. “Every day they do not means another day that communities across the country struggle with the toll of the Biden border crisis. President Biden needs to respond to the concerns of the American people and secure our border immediately.” On Protecting Medicare and Social Security: “President Biden and Congressional Democrats have weakened our safety nets through their radical spending agenda, which has driven up Medicare premiums and forced seniors to spend more in out-of-pocket costs. “Republicans have led on the bipartisan Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, which will save seniors and the Medicare program billions of dollars. Rather than play politics, President Biden should join the effort and work with Republicans to strengthen and preserve Medicare and Social Security without cutting benefits to seniors.”   On President Biden’s Radical Abortion Agenda: “President Biden supports taxpayer-funded abortion, on demand, and up until the moment of birth. This unconscionable position bolsters a culture that fails to protect the most innocent among us.   “I firmly believe in protecting the value and dignity of every human life—and that begins with making sure no woman feels like abortion is her only option. Energy and Commerce Republicans have taken action to support women and their babies at every stage of their lives. I’m hopeful for the day we come together as a nation to affirm the sanctity, value, and dignity of every human life.”   On President Biden’s Innovation-Crushing IRA Price-Setting Scheme: “American leads the world in biomedical innovation, producing cutting-edge devices, treatments, and cures for new diseases and conditions every year. Rather than support the research and development of new cures, President Biden and Congressional Democrats forced through a partisan price-setting scheme that is already harming innovation and robbing patients of hope.   “President Biden praises his ‘Moonshot Initiative’ to cure cancer, yet he is responsible for laws and regulations that will delay achieving this goal. Patients battling cancer now can’t afford to wait. The President must work with Congressional Republicans to lower drug costs by undoing the worst parts of the Inflation Reduction Act—it’s how we restore hope for patients, families, and caregivers.”



Mar 7, 2024
Press Release

Chair Rodgers Statement on Strengthening Americans’ Data Privacy and Security

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released the following statement regarding President Biden’s comments on securing Americans’ data privacy at his State of the Union Address: “The American people deserve to know that their personal data is protected. While it is encouraging to see President Biden’s recent announcement to crack down on the sale of Americans’ personal data to foreign adversaries, Republicans and Democrats agree the best way to truly secure people’s data is for Congress to pass comprehensive data privacy and security legislation that enacts one national data privacy standard. President Biden must work with Congress to end the patchwork of state privacy laws, protect kids online, and prevent bad actors and foreign adversaries from surveilling and exploiting Americans’ data.” 


Subcommittee Members

(22)

Chairman Innovation, Data, and Commerce

Gus Bilirakis

R

Florida – District 12

Vice Chair Innovation, Data, and Commerce

Tim Walberg

R

Michigan – District 5

Ranking Member Innovation, Data, and Commerce

Jan Schakowsky

D

Illinois – District 9

Larry Bucshon, M.D.

R

Indiana – District 8

Jeff Duncan

R

South Carolina – District 3

Neal Dunn, M.D.

R

Florida – District 2

Debbie Lesko

R

Arizona – District 8

Greg Pence

R

Indiana – District 6

Kelly Armstrong

R

North Dakota - At Large

Rick Allen

R

Georgia – District 12

Russ Fulcher

R

Idaho – District 1

Diana Harshbarger

R

Tennessee – District 1

Kat Cammack

R

Florida – District 3

Cathy McMorris Rodgers

R

Washington – District 5

Kathy Castor

D

Florida – District 14

Debbie Dingell

D

Michigan – District 6

Robin Kelly

D

Illinois – District 2

Lisa Blunt Rochester

D

Delaware

Darren Soto

D

Florida – District 9

Lori Trahan

D

Massachusetts – District 3

Yvette Clarke

D

New York – District 9

Frank Pallone

D

New Jersey – District 6

Recent Letters


Jan 17, 2024
Press Release

E&C, China Select Committees Launch Inquiry into Taxpayer Funding Streams Funneled to CCP-Backed Researcher

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee (E&C) Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), E&C Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chair Bob Latta (R-OH), E&C Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), E&C Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, launched an investigation into grants made to an AI scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).  The Chairs made requests for documents to UCLA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).  BACKGROUND :  On November 1, 2023, a Newsweek investigation found that the federal government awarded at least $30 million in federal research grants led by Mr. Song-Chun Zhu, who is now “at the forefront of China's race to develop the most advanced artificial intelligence.”  The investigation further revealed the NSF and DOD continued funding Mr. Zhu even as he “set up a parallel institute near Wuhan, took a position at a Beijing university whose primary goal is to support Chinese military research, and joined a CCP ‘talent plan’ whose members are tasked with transferring knowledge and technology to China.”  In particular, Newsweek found that the project once led by Mr. Zhu received $1.2 million in two grants from the Office of Naval Research in 2021, the year following his departure to China.  KEY LETTER EXCERPT:   “Mr. Zhu has openly discussed how if China takes the lead in developing a ‘truly universal intelligence,’ then it will ‘become the winner of the international technology competition.’ He has also referred to the AI race as being equivalent in military importance to the race for the atomic bomb. In a period of intensifying geopolitical competition with the CCP, ceasing federal government support for Chinese AI development is a critical national security imperative.”  CLICK HERE to read the letter to UCLA Chancellor Gener Block.  CLICK HERE to read the letter to NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan.  CLICK HERE to read the letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. 



Dec 20, 2023
Press Release

Chairs Rodgers and Bilirakis Press China-Based Online Marketplaces on Potential Data Privacy and Human Rights Violations

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), on behalf of subcommittee Republicans, sent a letter to China-based e-commerce companies raising concerns over data privacy and security risks for American users, the counterfeit products flourishing on these platforms, and reports of horrific human rights abuses.   BACKGROUND:   China-based e-commerce marketplaces, like TikTok, TaoBao, Pinduoduo, Temu, Alibaba, AliExpress, and Shein, have recently increased in popularity in the U.S.  The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) requires that all Chinese tech companies allow the CCP to access all user information, raising serious data privacy and security concerns for Americans using these platforms .  These marketplaces commonly offer “knock off” versions of products, which often undermine intellectual property laws.  Furthermore, reports have alleged that some of the sellers on these platforms may have committed egregious human rights violations, including the use of forced labor and the selling of products, like wigs, that use hair from Uyghur women forced to shave their heads.  KEY LETTER EXCERPTS:   “The rise in popularity of apps and marketplaces like, TikTok, TaoBao, Pinduoduo, Temu, Alibaba, AliExpress, and Shein, has resulted in sharp public scrutiny regarding the business practices of these companies.”  […]  “Lax policies and practices are leaving American’s data at risk of theft, leading consumers to unknowingly purchase counterfeit goods. In addition to these lax policies and practices, it is important to ensure that supply chains are free of forced labor.”  The Chairs asked companies to respond to the following questions by January 12, 2024:   Please outline the steps taken to delete personal data when requested or ordered by a user, the parent of a user who is a minor, or others authorized to make such a request.  What protections do you have in place to prevent children from spending large amounts of money on your platform?  What data practices do you require of your third-parties?  What data practices do you require of your service providers?  Please individually confirm you are not collecting or compiling the following information:  Religious beliefs;  Political opinions;  Genetic data;  Biometric data;  Data concerning health;  Data concerning racial or ethnic origin;  Data about minors.  Similar to ByteDance, does your company have an internal CCP Committee?  Please document all meetings, communication, or interactions you—or any other senior company executives—have had with members of the Chinese government or the CCP while serving as officers.   Can you provide a complete software bill of materials for all components and components of the components in the mobile app? Please include the developer information and country of origin for all listed components.  Where does your company store the signing key for iOS and Android applications? How is access to the signing keys managed, and who are the developers with access to the signing keys for the mobile application?  Please detail the data security and protections you have to prevent unauthorized access to such signing key.  How frequently is your mobile app or backend security tested? Are they tested by US personnel? To what security standard are they tested?  How frequently is user location data transmitted? Within how many feet is this location data measured?  What compliance procedures do you have in place to ensure compliance with the INFORM Consumers Act ?  We have heard employees of companies associated with the Chinese government, such as TikTok, disagree with notion that Uyghur people are facing a genocide in the Xinjian region of China. Do you agree that there is a genocide occurring in the Xinjiang region of China?  Are you aware of the PRC’s persecution of the Uyghur people, including the reports that Uyghur women’s heads have been shaved to be used for products that are shipped into the U.S.?  Are there products using natural hair that originate in the Xinjiang region available on your e-commerce marketplace?  Are there any other products that have originated from, or contain components or material that originated from the Xinjiang region?  Given the human rights abuses occurring in the Xinjiang region, do you require any additional steps or increased scrutiny for products coming from such region?   If yes, please explain.   Can you unequivocally state that your supply chain is free of forced labor?  What steps are you taking to ensure that your supply chain does not include forced labor?   CLICK HERE to read the full letter to TikTok.  CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Whaleco Inc.  CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Alibaba.  CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Shein. 



Dec 7, 2023
Press Release

House E&C, Senate Commerce Republicans Question Eventbrite over Seemingly Inconsistent Enforcement of Community Guidelines

Letter comes after Eventbrite censored conservative event while permitting pro-Hamas events Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chair Bob Latta (R-OH), Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), and Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, & Commerce Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), along with Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX) today wrote Eventbrite President and CEO Julia Hartz. The letter raises concerns over Eventbrite’s enforcement practices. BACKGROUND :  On October 23, 2023, Eventbrite removed an event listing titled, “Protecting Women’s Sports with Riley Gaines,” from its platform.    This event was intended to be a public forum for participants, including female athletes, to express issues, experiences, and consequences of biological males competing in their competitions.  Eventbrite listed “Rahm 4 Palestine (GAZA): Talk & Dinner,” scheduled for October 27, featuring a headline speaker who, after the October 7 Israeli massacre, using his verified X account, publicly posted antisemitic messaging that was viewed more than 1 million times.  A sold-out conference scheduled for November 10 in Washington, D.C., “Palestine Center 2023 Annual Conference,” was promoted on Eventbrite.    In advertising this event, organizers referred to the country of Israel as “Israeli apartheid” under Eventbrite’s “About this event” tab.  KEY LETTER EXCERPTS :  “In the last few weeks, Eventbrite, it seems, has selectively enforced its terms of service by removing some events while allowing potentially violative events to remain on the site. We raise the issues below not to dictate or remove events and users from your marketplace, but to better understand your Community Guidelines enforcement process .”  […]  “We struggle to comprehend the rationale for removing this event, while other Eventbrite listings that seemingly violate several of Eventbrite’s Community Guidelines remain live, including some that feature speakers espousing allegiance to entities designated by the U.S. Government as foreign terrorist organizations.”  […]  “Because Gaines’s promotion of the widely held view to preserve women’s athletics starkly contrasts with events on Eventbrite featuring speakers sympathetic to mass murder, this leads us to wonder if pro-terrorist and antisemitic events and event speakers do not plainly violate Eventbrite’s prohibition of content that would ‘discriminate against, harass, disparage, threaten, incite violence against, or otherwise target individuals or groups based on their actual or perceived race, ethnicity, religion, national origin.’ We seek information on what metrics Eventbrite uses to enforce its Community Guidelines on selected issues such as women’s athletics versus terrorism and antisemitism .”    CLICK HERE to read the full letter.