House votes to require agencies to assess privacy impact of rules

The House on Monday passed by voice vote a measure that aims to enhance citizens' privacy by forcing federal agencies to assess the privacy impact of potential rules.

Under the bill, H.R. 4561, when a federal agency publicly discloses a proposed regulation, it also would have to include an initial statement detailing the expected impact on personal information collected as a result of the rule.

After a public-comment period, agencies would have to attach a final privacy report to the rule describing the steps that the agency will take to secure personal information.

Groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the National Rifle Association have endorsed the legislation, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said it has broad bipartisan support in Congress.

"This legislation will improve the regulatory process and protect Americans from an unjustified or unintentional invasion of privacy," added Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va.