Key Quotes from Today’s Hearing on Privacy and Data Security

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today convened a full committee hearing on privacy and data security. The hearing examined how entities collect, maintain, secure, and use personal information in today’s economy and whether consumers are adequately protected under current law. The Commerce Committee heard from representatives from relevant government agencies as well as business and consumer advocate stakeholders.

Rockefeller Says New FTC Investigation into Gas Prices Will Help Consumers

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today announced that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has agreed to start an investigation into oil and gasoline markets and the impact on the amount Americans are paying for gas. Rockefeller pushed the FTC to probe this issue back in March.

Pryor, Rockefeller Introduce Legislation to Protect Consumers’ Personal Information and Prevent Identity Theft

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) today reintroduced legislation to require businesses and nonprofit organizations that store consumers’ personal information to put in place strong security features to safeguard sensitive data, alert consumers when this data has been breached, and provide affected individuals with the tools they need to protect their credit and finances. Currently, there is no single federal standard for guarding many types of consumer information.

Rockefeller Bill Will Help Prevent Kids From Swallowing Hazardous Mini Batteries

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today introduced a bill to reduce the risk of injury or death to children from ingestion of button cell batteries. This common-sense bill would make it harder for children to access these tiny batteries by making battery compartments in consumer products more secure.

Rockefeller Report Concludes That Health Insurance Companies Could Owe Consumers as Much as $2 Billion This Year

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today released a new report demonstrating that provisions in last year’s health reform law could save consumers across the country billions of dollars this year. This marks the first time that estimated savings from the medical loss ratio (MLR) provisions of the reform law have been quantified using the insurance companies own data.