CCAGW Applauds Introduction of National Data Privacy Bill

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) applauds the introduction of legislation to establish a national data privacy framework.  While prior efforts to enact such legislation were not successful, this could all change thanks to the work of the Data Privacy Working Group, which led to the April 23, 2026, introduction of H.R. 8413, the SECURE Data Act, by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.), who leads the Data Privacy Working Group.

The legislation includes recommendations submitted by Citizens Against Government Waste in 2018 to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which contained the following six principles: 1) A National Privacy Framework; 2) Consumer Choice and Control; 3) Transparency; 4) Data Minimization and Contextuality; 5) Flexibility; and 6) Data Security and Breach Notification.

The SECURE Data Act includes provisions that have been adopted by states like Colorado, Connecticut, and Virginia rather than states that have more restrictive and burdensome requirements.  The pre-emption provision of H.R. 8413 eliminates the patchwork of state laws that could cost businesses up to $1 trillion over 10 years and continue to cause confusion for consumers.  The bill does not include a private right of action, leaving enforcement of the bill to the Federal Trade Commission and the state attorneys general and saving taxpayers and businesses from endless and potentially frivolous litigation.

CCAGW urges Congress to begin consideration of H.R. 8413 to ensure that a national data privacy bill can be enacted before the end of the year.