WASHINGTON, DC – Under the leadership of Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved seven bills today, including the Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2007, which sets new standards to protect sensitive, personal information, including allowing credit freezes and limiting the display of social security numbers, and the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2007, which creates a statutory obligation on IP-enabled voice service providers to provide 911 and E911 service to their subscribers.

 

The Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2007, S. 1178, requires businesses, organizations, and federal agencies to maintain and protect sensitive personal information.  The Federal Trade Commission establishes standards for companies safeguarding such information and is responsible for enforcing the Act against businesses and organizations, other than those that are regulated by other federal agencies.  Violators may be fined up to $11,000 per violation per day with no cap.  The bill also obligates these businesses, organizations, and federal agencies to notify consumers in the event of a security breach that creates a reasonable risk of identity theft.

 

Under the bill, in the event of a breach, a consumer may place a security freeze on his or her consumer credit report, which blocks the release of any information from the consumer’s credit report without the explicit authorization of the consumer. Additionally, the bill would prohibit the display of social security numbers on employer, school or other identification cards, and state driver’s licenses. It also prohibits the sale, purchase, or solicitation of social security numbers, except for limited purposes such as fraud prevention and to pursue criminals.

 

 

S. 428, the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2007 would grant IP-enabled voice providers the right of access to essential 911 components comparable to the rights of access granted to commercial mobile service providers. The bill also would clarify the right of states and localities to impose 911 fees on IP-enabled voice services providers to use for expanded 911, E911, or other public safety purpose. S. 428 would also direct the E911 Implementation Coordination Office to develop and report to Congress on a national plan for migrating to an IP-enabled emergency network within 270 days of the bill’s enactment.

 

Other approved items include the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007, the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act, the Training for Realtime Writers Act of 2007, the Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Act, an amendment to the Horse Protection Act, and several promotions within the United States Coast Guard (USCG). 

All items were reported unanimously with the exception of the amendment to the Horse Protection Act, was reported 15 to 7.

 

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S. 294, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007 (PRIIA), is a six-year, passenger rail reauthorization bill for fiscal years 2007 through 2012. The bill would authorize funding for Amtrak’s capital and operating needs to maintain current operations, upgrade equipment, and return the Northeast Corridor (NEC) to a state of good repair. Over the life of the bill, Amtrak’s operating subsidy would be reduced by 40 percent through cost cutting, restructuring, and reform, while capital funding to Amtrak and the States is increased. The bill also would create a new intercity passenger rail capital grant program for the States.

 

The Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act, S. 924, would direct the USCG to use a competitive process for selecting future contractors for its Deepwater Program. In addition, the bill would require the USCG to certify to Congress that proposed contractors meet objective criteria on feasibility, maturity of design, and costs. The bill would direct pending contractors to undergo analysis by an independent third party. It, however, would allow contractors in progress to complete their work. Additionally, under the bill, the USCG would provide information to Congress regarding the status of the Deepwater program, including a report on the 110’ patrol boat gaps, and information to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for their continued monitoring of the Deepwater program.

 

S. 675, the Training for Realtime Writers Act of 2007, would authorize a new grant program within the Department of Commerce encouraging the training of closed captioners. The bill would authorize funding levels at $20 million per year for fiscal years 2008 through 2012. It also would create target grant awards for curriculum development, student recruitment, scholarships, training, distance learning, and job placement.

 

The Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Act, S. 1142, would authorize the Secretary of Commerce to create a Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection (CELP) Program that protects threatened coastal areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or other value. States would submit proposals for the grants, which would be awarded based on demonstrated need for protection. Approved proposals could receive up to 75% of the cost for protection.

 

S. 311, would amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses, or the alike, to be slaughtered for human consumption.

 

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