Federal Agency Data Breach Protection Act

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on H.R. 4791, the Federal Agency Data Protection Act. While we appreciate the majority's willingness to incorporate several suggestions from our side such as including language from H.R. 2124, Representative Tom Davis' Federal Agency Data Breach Protection Act, we remain concerned that this legislation misses some key opportunities to advance legislation which truly strengthens our Federal information security laws.

But, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on a much more pressing issue, an issue of great concern to all Americans.

With gas prices soaring to $3.98 per gallon over the weekend, according to AAA, the House returned officially from Memorial Day break today, but believe it or not, not a single piece of legislation to help lower gas prices is on the House schedule this week. This is particularly amazing since then Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi promised the American people ``a commonsense plan'' to lower gas prices way back in April, 2006. And it's particularly troubling since House Republicans unveiled a comprehensive plan to lower gas prices 2 weeks ago and has promoted that plan across the country during last week's Memorial Day recess.

Instead of delivering on their April, 2006, promise, however, the Democrats in charge of Congress have delivered only a staggering $1.65 Pelosi premium, meaning consumers are forced to pay $1.65 more per gallon of gasoline compared to what they paid on January 4, 2007, the Democrats' first day in the majority.

For an average family that fills up its two cars once a week, that's an astronomical 2,574 more dollars per year that they are forced to pay at the pump. That's $2,574 less that families have for their children's educational expenses; $2,574 less for family vacations this summer; and $2,574 less for food costs, which also are skyrocketing.

No wonder Democrats are continuing to feel the heat for doing nothing, nothing, to address the rising cost of gasoline.

Let me quote part of a column in Monday's New Hampshire Union Leader about what Congress has done to contribute to American families' and small businesses' pain at the pump:

``Congress has prevented the drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, which could be providing 1 million gallons of oil per day. Congress has put 85 percent of the U.S. coastal areas off-limits for drilling. Congress has recently prohibited the processing of oil shale, which could provide substantial quantities of oil economically . . .

``To sum it up, Congress has done nothing to help but lots to increase on our dependence on foreign oil and increase the price Americans pay for oil and gas.''

An op-ed published over the weekend in the Athens, Georgia, Banner- Herald makes the case that the Democratic Congress has contributed to the recent surge in gas prices:

``Drilling is prohibited in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, a potential source of 1 million barrels a day, 5 percent of America's daily oil consumption. Also off-limits is 85 percent of America's coastline.

``Americans deserve to know the story, in all its gory details, of what their government has done and is doing to cause high prices at the pump and to make gasoline, indeed, all energy, more scarce and more expensive in the future.''

Indeed, while Democrats have offered nothing more than broken promises and policies that drive up gas prices, House Republicans have unveiled a comprehensive plan for lower gas prices and energy independence. The GOP blueprint promotes alternative and renewable fuels, harnesses technologies already being employed successfully by our global competitors, and unlocks America's natural energy resources through the responsible exploration of oil and gas in the United States, a reform backed by the majority of Americans, according to a new Gallup Poll. How much longer will Democrats ignore the will of the American people by keeping the House Republicans' plan off the House floor?

Another quote from the Charleston, West Virginia, Daily Mail: ``Doing Nothing is What Democrats in Congress Have Specialized in, and That's One of the Reasons Gasoline Costs $4 Per Gallon.''

Mr. Speaker, we can stand here and deal with a lot of issues that we're dealing with this week, but we need to get to the issues that the American people want us to deal with, and that's the soaring price of gasoline and energy costs.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4791) to amend title 44, United States Code, to strengthen requirements for ensuring the effectiveness of information security controls over information resources that support Federal operations and assets, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Subcommittee of Information Policy, Census and National Archives, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 4791, the Federal Agency Data Protection Act, a bill to protect personally identifiable information of individuals that is maintained in or transmitted by Federal agency information systems.

H.R. 4791, which I introduced along with Chairman Henry Waxman and Representative Ed Towns on December 18, 2007, was reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on May 21, 2008. I want to also thank Ranking Member Tom Davis for working with us on this legislation, especially on the notification provision.

Despite progress made with the implementation of the Federal Information Security Management Act, or FISMA, GAO found that pervasive weaknesses continue to exist primarily because agencies fail to maintain secure IT networks. As a result, GAO concluded that Federal financial data are at risk of unauthorized modification or destruction, sensitive information at risk of inappropriate disclosure, and critical operations at risk of disruption.

H.R. 4791 would secure our agencies' IT access and require an annual audit of agency programs. The bill would also establish a comprehensive definition for ``personally identifiable information'' and mandate that agencies notify individuals when their personal information is accessed in a data breach.

Mr. Speaker, in light of today's report that 1,000 patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other military hospitals had their names, Social Security numbers and birth dates exposed in a security breach, this is a timely measure that provides Americans with some assurance that the Federal Government will work diligently to protect their personal information.

I urge the swift passage of H.R. 4791.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to urge the House to support this bill, H.R. 4791, and to say that the American people expect that personal information that they share with their government should be kept private and should be protected, and this bill will ensure that that information is protected.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.