TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS:
We, the undersigned, urge Congress to pass comprehensive privacy legislation. It has been 1,285 days since the California Consumer Privacy Act, America’s first comprehensive data protection law, was signed. Consumers and businesses should not be forced to wait longer for legislation that equally protects the privacy of all Americans.
A growing patchwork of state laws are emerging which threaten innovation and create consumer and business confusion. Last year alone, Virginia and Colorado passed legislation that differs from California’s new California Privacy Rights Act. Twenty-six other states and the District of Columbia also considered data protection legislation.[1] These proposals would take significantly diverse approaches on enforcement, duties, and scope that would make compliance incredibly difficult for small businesses to compete.
As the Federal Trade Commission considers a privacy rulemaking that would add a further layer of complexity to the state patchwork, it is critical that Congress pass one single national standard. This standard must provide meaningful and robust protections for consumers through sole federal agency and state attorney general enforcement.
Data is foundational to America’s economic growth and keeping society safe, healthy and inclusive. Technologies like artificial intelligence are leading to vaccine development and expanding opportunities financially to those who have traditionally been underserved. Fundamental to the use of data is trust. A national privacy law that is clear and fair to business and empowering to consumers will foster the digital ecosystem necessary for America to compete.
We are united for privacy and urge you to pass bipartisan and durable national data protection legislation.
Sincerely,
National Associations
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
America’s SBDC
Association of National Advertisers
Consumer Data Industry Association
Consumer Technology Association
Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association
Interactive Advertising Bureau
National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions
National Association of Surety Bond Producers
National Business Coalition on E-Commerce and Privacy
National Waste & Recycling Association
Security Industry Association
Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA)
TechNet
U.S. Minority Chamber of Commerce
Alabama
Enterprise Chamber of Commerce
Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce
Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information
Arizona
Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce
Chandler Chamber of Commerce
Greater Phoenix Chamber
Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce
Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce
Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce
California
Danville Area Chamber of Commerce
Gateway Chambers Alliance
Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce
Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Norwalk Chamber of Commerce
Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce
Rancho Cordova Area Chamber of Commerce
San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce
San Mateo Chamber of Commerce
Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Escondido Chamber of Commerce
Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce
Georgia
Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Idaho
Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce
Illinois
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Naperville Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce
Indiana
South Bend Regional Chamber
Iowa
Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce
Mason City Chamber of Commerce
Kansas
Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
Maryland
Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce
Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc.
Howard County Chamber
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce
Washington County Chamber of Commerce
Massachusetts
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
One SouthCoast Chamber
Minnesota
Austin Area Chamber of Commerce
Nevada
Carson City Chamber of Commerce
White Pine Chamber of Commerce
New Jersey
Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce
New Mexico
Southwest Cable Communications Association (Arizona and New Mexico)
New York
Corning Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce
North Carolina
North Carolina Chamber
The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus
Ohio
Solon Chamber of Commerce
Oklahoma
The State Chamber of Oklahoma
Oregon
Oregon Business & Industry
Pennsylvania
Beaver County Chamber of Commerce
Cambria Regional Chamber
Greater Latrobe Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
South Carolina
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
Tennessee
Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce
Texas
Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce
Grapevine Chamber of Commerce
Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce
Longview TX Chamber of Commerce
Rowlett Area Chamber & Visitors Center
Utah
Point of Mountain Chamber of Commerce
Salt Lake Chamber
South Valley Chamber of Commerce
Virginia
Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Washington
Association of Washington Business
Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce
Burlington Chamber of Commerce
Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Shelton-Mason County Chamber
Washington Retail Association
Wyoming
Casper Area Chamber of Commerce
[1] https://americaninnovators.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CTEC_Privacy2021_HeatMap_v2.pdf