Latest news with #CommerceandEnergyCommittee
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers launch investigation into 23andMe after bankruptcy
A group of House lawmakers launched a probe Thursday into 23andMe's handling of customers' sensitive data following the company's filing for bankruptcy last month. In a letter to 23andMe, House Commerce and Energy Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) and Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) asked the company to state its data privacy and security protections for former customers if the business chooses to sell the personal information in either a standalone sale or as part of a sale of the company. 23andMe, which filed for bankruptcy in Missouri federal court last month, is a human genetics and biotechnology company that became popular in recent years for its at-home DNA tests. The testing required customers to submit a saliva sample by mail to then receive personalized genetic reports, which has resulted in the company holding the genetic data of more than 15 million customers. 'The company is in possession of highly sensitive personal information, including biological samples, medical information and personal information for more than 15 million customers,' the lawmakers wrote in the letter to Joe Selsavage, the company's interim CEO. The lawmakers noted Americans' personal health information is shielded under federal privacy laws that restrict the release of medical information, but direct-to-consumer companies like 23andMe are not covered under these laws. 'Given the lack of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) protections, the patchwork of state laws covering genetic privacy, and the uncertainty surrounding what happens to customer information should a sale of the company or customer data and information transpire, we are concerned that this trove of sensitive information is at risk of being compromised,' the lawmakers wrote. When the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month, it said customers' personal information may be accessed, sold or transferred as part of a transaction and that all possible buyers must comply with its privacy policy and all applicable laws. Users are able to delete their information from 23andMe's website, though lawmakers on Thursday claimed some customers are having difficulty accessing their data online. The lawmakers pointed to reports of some customers having difficulty with their 23andMe accounts due to the website being down or issues with verification codes. 'Regardless of whether the company changes ownership, we want to ensure that customer access and deletion requests are being honored by 23andMe,' the lawmakers said. The letter asks 23andMe a series of questions, including whether it plans to change its privacy statement at any point before selling customers' personal information and if it will vet prospective buyers. The Hill reached out to the company for further comment. Other government leaders have raised concerns in recent weeks about 23andMe's data privacy protocols. Earlier this week, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee sent an inquiry to the company, following a Federal Trade Commission letter late last month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
17-04-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Lawmakers launch investigation into 23AndMe after bankruptcy
A group of House lawmakers launched a probe on Thursday into 23andMe's handling of customers' sensitive data following the company's filing for bankruptcy last month. In a letter to 23andMe, House Commerce and Energy Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) and Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) asked the company to state its data privacy and security protections for former customers if the business chooses to sell the personal information in either a standalone sale or as part of a sale of the company. 23andMe, which filed for bankruptcy in Missouri federal court last month, is a human genetics and biotechnology company that became popular in recent years for its at-home DNA tests. The testing required customers to submit a saliva sample by mail to then receive personalized genetic reports, which has resulted in the company holding the genetic data of more than 15 million customers. 'The company is in possession of highly sensitive personal information, including biological samples, medical information and personal information for more than 15 million customers,' the lawmakers wrote in the letter to Joe Selsavage, the company's interim chief executive officer. The lawmakers noted Americans' personal health information is shielded under federal privacy laws that restrict the release of medical information, but direct-to-consumer companies like 23andMe are not covered under these laws. 'Given the lack of HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) protections, the patchwork of state laws covering genetic privacy, and the uncertainty surrounding what happens to customer information should a sale of the company or customer data and information transpire, we are concerned that this trove of sensitive information is at risk of being compromised, ' the lawmakers wrote. When the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month, it said customers' personal information may be accessed, sold or transferred as part of a transaction and that all possible buyers must comply with its privacy policy and all applicable laws. Users are able to delete their information from 23andMe's website, though lawmakers on Thursday claimed some customers are having difficulty accessing their data online. The lawmakers pointed to reports of some customers having difficulty access their data from their 23andMe accounts due to the website being down or issues with verification codes. 'Regardless of whether the company changes ownership, we want to ensure that customer access and deletion requests are being honored by 23andMe,' the lawmakers said. The letter asks 23andMe a series of questions, including whether it plans to change its privacy statement at any point before selling customers' personal information and if it will vet prospective buyers. The Hill reached out to the company for further comment. Other government leaders have raised concerns in recent weeks about 23andMe's data privacy protocols. Earlier this week, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sent an inquiry to the company, following the Federal Trade Commission's letter late last month.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2 pipeline bills pass out of House committee
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) –Two bills heard in the House Commerce and Energy Committee, both having to do with the future of carbon pipelines in the state, have both passed out of committee. House Bill 1249 would protect landowners from the use of deception, fraud, harassment, intimidation, misrepresentation, or threat, in acquiring easements for linear infrastructure for easements or or easement options. The bill passed through committee with a vote of 8 to 4 and now heads to the House floor. House defeats bill for new men's prison The bill states a person owning or proposing a facility carrying carbon oxide, may not use any deception, fraud, harassment, intimidation, misrepresentation, or threat, to induce a landowner to grant an easement or easement. The bill adds that an aggrieved landowner may bring an action in circuit court against any person alleged to have violated this section no later than twelve months after the date the violation allegedly occurred. Speaking for the bill, Republican Rep. Kaley Nolz said the existing laws currently aren't enough to deter company's, she added that the bill is meant to be a preventative measure. 'This bill clearly expresses what we will not be tolerate in this state and also provides a deterrent from this kind of behavior,' Nolz said. 'My goal of this bill is to encourage more communication between the landowners and these companies. Speaking in opposition of the bill was Justin Bell, Lobbyist for Summit Carbon Solutions, who said right now there's not a single situation where someone has brought a case or alleged that an easement had been obtained through these methods 'Why this would be limited to just one form of easement at this point now we're looking at is OK for other people to obtain easements of this nature, but not one specific one specific project that doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense,' said Bell. Republican Rep. Steve Duffy, said the bill is far too vague in terms of what can and cannot be brought forward. 'I'm a small business person that if I saw this bill, I would run as far from this line of it, I wouldn't invest in anything that was tied up there, It's so vague and so loose, there's just no way to get your hands around it,' Duffy said. 'If you can't have certainty, no bank is gonna give you any money.' Republican Rep. Karla J. Lems, said there have been numerous bills brought forth on this topic in the last 3 years, saying that this bill is leveling the playing field. 'We've never had to bring some of these things, and now we have, and you've seen many bills that have been brought in the last 3 years swirling around this particular issue,' Lems said. 'It is giving the property owners a step up.' Republican Rep. Jessica Bahmuller, stated if you go back 4 years ago, 5 years ago, if this would have been in place, we wouldn't even be talking about it, and I think a pipeline would already be in the ground. Republican Rep. Drew Peterson said he believes everything that this bill covers is already covered in the law. 'If the company is found to be at fault, they're going to pay for the lawyer fees, which is a lot of what this wants to do, and there's going to be other grounds there,' Peterson said. 'I don't like carve-outs, I think it should be applied to similarly and fairly to all types of companies.' House Bill 1085 would establish a moratorium on the construction of carbon dioxide pipelines inthis state and to declare an emergency. By a vote of 7 to 6 House Bill 1085 passed through the committee. The bill states that the commission may not issue a permit to an applicant for a transmission facility intended to transport carbon dioxide unless: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has adopted final pipeline safety rules consistent with its proposed rulemaking The commission has verified that the submitted application complies with the finalized rules The application complies with any other condition or requirement imposed by the commission, as necessary to preserve public safety Republican Rep. Richard Vasgaard, said with the increase of pipelines comes an increase in the potential for pipeline ruptures, adding that safety needs to be an important issue. 'There's an average of 8 CO2 leaks per year in this country, most of them have been small and not have caused any big problems,' Vasgaard said. 'One can only assume as they add miles and miles and miles of more pipeline that this number of leaks probably will go up, this is a very dangerous product.' Speaking in opposition of the bill was Brett Koenecke, a registered lobbyist for Summit Carbon Solutions, who said that the bill would give authority as a legislature of South Dakota to a federal agency and allow them to decide whether the PUC. 'I would caution you against allowing federal bureaucrats to decide whether this project goes forward and instead allow the people of South Dakota through their elected officials to do so,' said Koenecke. Republican Rep. William Shorma said this bill is going against the citizens of South Dakota and going against the results of the vote in the last general election for SB 201. We put in as a legislature last year additional rules that were exceeded the FISA minimums and the citizens of South Dakota referred that bill and said we don't want all those protections that you're applying to us,' Shorma said. ' The citizens overwhelmingly told us what they didn't want which was 4 feet below the surface, better pay for going into survey, etc, so I'm confused about why this bill is being brought.' Senate Bill 201 or Referred Law 21 was one of seven ballot measures in the 2024 election. The measure sought to allow counties to impose a $1 per foot surcharge on carbon dioxide pipelines. It required CO2 pipelines to be buried at a minimum depth of four feet, CO2 companies to pay landowners $500 to access their land, and requires that business operations must be started within five years of the easement. Republican Rep. Karla J. Lems responded saying South Dakotans had a problem with only a part of SB 201. 'There is the state and local lane and they we deal with ordinances, we deal with setbacks, those kinds of things, and PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) deals with the pipe and the structure of the pipe and the safety of the pipe and what it's made out of,' Lems said. 'I think we just need to keep that in mind with this particular piece of legislation that's before us.' Representative Lana J. Greenfield said the reason this bill is here is all about the health and safety of South Dakotans, she added where she's from a break could be fatal. 'Now why would I want to put my people at risk as a volunteer firemen to send them out to some place where there's been an eruption of carbon dioxide under pressure and and think that they're going to not be risking their lives,' Greenfield said. 'It's going to be fatal. I wouldn't understand why we wouldn't want to look at the safety aspect.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
