House Judiciary Committee Approves the Judicial Redress Act, Legislation to Strengthen Privacy Protections for Individuals

Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee today approved the Judicial Redress Act of 2015 (H.R. 1428) by voice vote. Introduced by Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.), the Judicial Redress Act of 2015 would strengthen partnerships with our allies and ensure continued law enforcement cooperation between the United States and Europe, while giving more individuals the ability to ensure that their privacy is protected.

The bipartisan legislation would extend certain privacy protection rights to citizens of European countries, as well as other allied nations, when the government willfully discloses information in violation of laws. Under the Judicial Redress Act of 2015, citizens of designated countries would be extended the core benefits of the Privacy Act that already applies to Americans with regard to information shared with U.S. law enforcement authorities, including the ability to bring a lawsuit for the correction of records and remedies for the intentional or willful disclosure of information. Many countries already extend such protections to U.S. citizens.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Goodlatte (R-Va.), Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner, and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers issued the following statements on the Committee’s approval of the bill:

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

Ranking Member Conyers: “The Judicial Redress Act is good for national security, good for privacy, good for business, and unquestionably the right thing to do for our nation’s closest allies.  We all benefit when the information our law enforcement agencies share is accurate.  Our partners in trade and security should have the ability to seek recourse when it is not.  I look forward to voting for this important legislation on the House floor and to swift passage in the Senate.”

Chairman Goodlatte: “I am pleased with the Committee’s bipartisan approval of the Judicial Redress Act. Approval of this bill will go a long way toward restoring our allies’ faith in U.S. data privacy protections and helping facilitate agreements, such as the Data Protection and Privacy Agreement, that strengthen our trans-Atlantic partnerships with Europe.”

Congressman Sensenbrenner: “Continuing advancements in technology make it critical to increase our security efforts and continue building solid relationships with our allies. As part of our growing law enforcement strategy, as well as a sign of good faith to our international partners, we must past the Judicial Redress Act of 2015.”

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