Congressional Hearing on Employment Verification
The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on employment verification. Several hearings have be held by the committee on the proposal to create a mandatory national government employment eligibility system. The current private sector system is voluntary.
Homeland Security Releases Final REAL ID Rules
The Department of Homeland Security released the long awaited final rule on state issued drivers licenses and identification documents. The rule indicated that the new federal REAL ID will be used for a variety of purposes unrelated to the law that resulted in the federalization of state issued drivers licenses. If states do not comply with the agency rule the drivers’ licenses held by state residents will not be accepted for air travel or to access federal government buildings. As a cost saving measure the Department of Homeland Security decided not to require encryption of the digital data stored on the REAL ID. The Privacy Coalition led a major anti-REAL ID public education campaign. EPIC's page on REAL ID and the ACLU's analysis of the new agency rule..
House Votes to Halt Digital Strip Searches
The House of Representatives approved by a vote of 310 to 118 a bill that will limit the use of Whole-Body Imaging machines, installed by the Transportation
Security Administration, in US airports. The devices photograph American air travelers stripped naked and could easily be programmed to record images. Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) sponsored the bill that will prohibit the use of the devices as the sole or primary method of screening aircraft passengers; require that passengers be provided information on the operation of such technology and offered a pat-down search in lieu of such screening; and prohibit the storage of an image of a passenger after a boarding determination is made. Privacy Coalition members supported a campaign to raise public awareness about Whole Body Imaging.
Computers Freedom and Privacy Annual Meeting
The Computers Freedom and Privacy Annual meeting will be held in Washington, DC June 1-4, 2009. This year's meeting is co-chaired by Cindy Southworth with the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and Jay Stanley with the ACLU. This year's theme is Creating the Future.
TSA Responds to Whole Body Imaging Objections
The Transportation Security Administration has replied to the Privacy Coalition statement on whole body imaging systems. The agency claims that the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) provides adequate protection. The Privacy Coalition letter pointed out that "the devices are designed to capture, record, and store detailed images of individuals undressed" and said that "If the public understood this, they would be outraged by the use of these devices by the US government on US citizens." The Privacy Coalition said that the use of the devices should be suspended pending an investigation. The letter was prompted by the TSA's announcement that Whole Body Imaging would replace metal detectors as the primary screening technique at US airports. The House of Representatives recently passed legislation that would establish clear privacy safeguards for the devices.
September 28 Privacy Coalition Meeting
The September 28, 2007 meeting of the Privacy Coalition featured presentations by David Gersten Director of the Department of Homeland Security's Civil Rights and Civil Libertieis Programs, Robert Mocny, Director of the Department of Homeland Security's US VISIT Program. The meeting also featured presentations by Susan Hunkler a privacy rights activist, Jim Harrision Director of the Identity Project, Lew Motby President, Work Rights Institute and a discussion on Fusion Centers.
View past meeting information...
The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on employment verification. Several hearings have be held by the committee on the proposal to create a mandatory national government employment eligibility system. The current private sector system is voluntary.
The House Committee on Department of Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment held a hearing September 27, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., 311 Cannon House Office Building on the topic of “The Way Forward With Fusion Centers: Challenges and Strategies for Change.”
House Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on September 18, 2007 on Warrantless Surveillance and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: The Role of Checks and Balances in Protecting Americans’ Privacy Rights (Part II)
The House Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing September 5, 2007 on Warrantless Surveillance and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: The Role of Checks and Balances in Protecting Americans’ Privacy Rights.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), along with Subcommittee Chairmen Jerrold Nadler and Robert "Bobby" C. Scott, sent a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, following weekend reports that disputes over the NSA's terrorist surveillance program involved "massive electronic databases." The full text of the letter is attached below.
On June 7, 2007 the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on "Prevention of Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation in Federal Elections: S. 453. "
On June 7, 2007 the Finanical Services Committee will hold a hearing:"Improving Credit Card Protection: Recent Industry and Regulatory Initiatives".
On May 25, 2007 the House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment, held a field hearing in Bellevue City, WA. The hearing titled “Building a Partnership Strategy: Improving Information Sharing with State & Local Law Enforcement and the Private Sector” looked information sharing among private sector, local, state, and federal entities. These efforts have been ongoing and are under the heading of "Fusion Centers."
On June 6, 2007 the full House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing on the XDR Tuberculosis Incident. The incident involved a US citizen diagnosed with a extremely drug resistant form of Tuberculoses who was able to travel aboard a commercial flight when a Transportation Security Administration employee did not adhere to a travel warning logged in the system.
On June 7, 2007, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties will hear testimony during an "Oversight Hearing on the Constitutional Limitations on Domestic Surveillance".
On June 6, 2007 the full House Judiciary Committee held two hearings on Immigration Reform. The first hearing looked at the business perspective, and the second the views of government on immigration statistics.
On Thursday, May 10, the Domestic Policy Subcommittee held a hearing to evaluated incompleteness in the federal database used for checking the criminal and mental health records of gun purchasers, as well as the inconsistencies in state compliance with federal gun purchase laws. The hearing addressed inconsistencies among the states in their supplemental gun prohibition laws.
On June 7, 2007, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security will hold a hearing on the Employment Verification System. The system is being proposed as a requirement for employers to screen potential employees during the hiring process. The Subcommittee will hear from privacy, legal, labor, and technology experts. If enacted it would create for the first time a federal government role in making routine employment determinations work performed within the United States. The Subcommittee is soliciting comments on the hearing topic.
On May 22, 2007, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing "Restoring Habeas Corpus: Protecting American Values and the Great Writ." The hearing will take place in Room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building beginning at 10:00 AM.
On May 3, 2007 the Senate Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing titled, "The Internet: A Portal to Violent Islamist Extremism." Hearing documents and the web cast are available online.
On Thursday, May 24, 2007, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a joint nomination hearing for Michael Baroody to be Chairman and Member of the Consumer Product Safety Commission; and Charles Darwin Snelling to be a Member of the Board of Directors at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Full Committee. The hearing will be held in 253 Russell Senate Building at 10:00 AM.
On May 10, 2007 the House Committee on Homeland Security held hearings on the topic of “Fixing the Homeland Security Information Network: Finding the Way Forward For Better Information Sharing.” The Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment met at 10:00 AM in 311 Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill.
On Thursday, May 10, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a full committee open markup session to consider both H.R. 964, the "Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act" (the Spy Act), and H.R. 948, the Social Security Number Protection Act of 2007. The markup will take place at 2:30pm in room 2123 Rayburn.
On Thursday, April 26, 2007 the House Committee on Financial Services' Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit will hold a hearing on Credit Card Practices: Current Consumer and Regulatory Issues. The hearing will take place in
room 2128 Rayburn House Office Building. The witness List & Prepared Testimony: Ms. Cindy Zeldin, Federal Affairs Coordinator, Economic Opportunity Programs, Demos: A Network for Ideas & Action; Mr. Arthur E. Wilmarth, Jr., Professor of Law, George Washington University Law School; Mr. Edward L. Yingling, President and CEO, American Bankers Association; Mr. Todd J. Zywicki, Professor of Law, George Mason University Law School; Mr. Oliver I. Ireland, Morrison and Foerster LLP; Ms. Linda Sherry, Director, National Priorities, Consumer Action
Available Member Statements: Congresswoman Maloney, Congressman Castle
Thursday April 19, 2007 -- The Senate Committee on the Judiciary will hold a Department of Justice oversight hearing hearing at 9:30 AM in room 216 Hart. The hearing's only witness is the Honorable Alberto Gonzales, US Attorney General and will take place at 10:00 AM. Live Web Cast
On Thursday, April 26, 2007 the Committee on Armed Services will hold a hearing tto receive testimony on legal issues regarding individuals detained by the Department of Defense as unlawful enemy combatants. The hearing will begin at 10:00 AM in room 216 Hart.
On Thursday, April 19, 2007 the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold mark up on a number of bills. The pivacy bills are S.495, a bill to prevent and mitigate identity theft, to ensure privacy, to provide notice of security breaches, and to enhance criminal penalties, law enforcement assistance, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information. The committee also cover S.119, a bill to prohibit profiteering and fraud relating to military action, relief, and reconstruction efforts, and H.R.740, to amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent caller ID spoofing. The mark ups will take place in room 226 Dirksen.
On Tuesday, April 17, 2007 the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence will hold a public hearing on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The hearing will take place on room 50 Dirksen at 2:30 PM.
POSTPONED UNTIL THURSDAY April 19, 2007 -- The Senate Committee on the Judiciary will hold a Department of Justice oversight hearing on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 in room 216 Hart. The hearing's only witness is the Honorable Alberto Gonzales, US Attorney General and will take place at 10:00 AM.
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions's Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety's hearing Too Much, Too Long? Domestic Violence in the Workplace for Tuesday, April 17, 10:00 a.m. in room Dirksen 628.
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Full Committee's Oversight Hearing on the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 11:00 AM in room Senate Russell - 253 is avaiable by webcast. All of the Commissioners appeared before the Committee.
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet hearing on Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission, Wednesday, March 14, 2007 9:00 a.m. in room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing webcastOversight of the Federal Communications Commission is availabe under the House Rules XI, 4.
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection hearing on Combating Spyware: H.R. 964, The hearing on the Spy Act is available by webcast under the conditions specified by House Committee Rule XI, 4. Hearing date is Thursday, March 15, 2007, 2322 Rayburn House Office Building, 11:00 a.m. For
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on H.R. 936, Prevention of Fraudulent Access to Phone Information Act. March 9, 2007 in room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building at 10:00 a.m. The hearing is also available by webcast, but this recording is subject to Rule XI, 4 of the House of Representatives. See text of Rule XI, 4 as posted by the House Committee on Rules.)
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing on Thursday, September 28, 2006, 10:00 AM in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing will focus on the surveillance of Hewlett-Packard board members by executives and how "Pretexting" was used to gain access to personal call records. For more information visit the House Committee's Web Site