# 114-hr-4187: Secure and Protect Americans' Data Act

114-hr-4187, Secure and Protect Americans' Data Act, is a 114th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4187
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 114-hr-4187
- Congress: 114
- Title: Secure and Protect Americans' Data Act
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
- Introduced: 2015-12-08
- Sponsor: Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Commerce
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Secure and Protect Americans' Data Act This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to promulgate regulations requiring entities regulated by the FTC, common carriers, and nonprofit organizations to establish information security practices for the treatment and protection of personal information. At least annually, such entities must evaluate their consumer privacy programs to make any appropriate adjustments for changing technologies, threats or vulnerabilities, or business arrangements. The bill sets forth special procedures for information brokers to: (1) submit security policies to the FTC, (2) provide for post-breach audits, and (3) establish procedures for individuals to review and correct inaccuracies in their personal information. In lieu of procedures that allow individuals to dispute information, an information broker may provide individuals a means of expressing a preference not to have their information used for marketing purposes. The bill prohibits information brokers from obtaining or disclosing personal information by false pretenses. Within 10 days following discovery of a security breach, entities must notify: the FTC; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Secret Service; for common carriers, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); and attorneys general of affected states. Within 30 days following a breach, entities must notify individuals who are U.S. citizens or residents whose personal information was, or is reasonably believed to have been, acquired or accessed by an unauthorized person, or used for an unauthorized purpose. If an entity is required to notify more than 5,000 individuals, the entity must also notify major consumer reporting agencies. An entity must provide notices in print and broadcast media if the affected residents of a state exceed 5,000. Notices must include information on affected individuals' entitlement to consumer credit reports or credit monitoring services. The bill exempts entities from notification requirements if the data is unusable, unreadable, or indecipherable. Entities complying with other federal laws that require substantially similar information security procedures or breach notifications are deemed to be in compliance with the FTC's procedures or the notification requirements of this Act. Enforcement authority is provided to the FTC and states. States may obtain civil penalties for certain violations.

## Cosponsors (8)

- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ), 2015-12-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2015-12-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2015-12-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2015-12-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4] (D-MA), 2015-12-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3] (D-MD), 2015-12-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1] (D-NC), 2015-12-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), 2016-11-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 114-hr-5044: Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika virus.
- 114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act
- 114-hr-3268: PAST Act
- 114-hr-2902: Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2015
- 114-hr-2867: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015
- 114-hr-2722: Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act

## Sources
- [114-hr-4187 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4187)

## Related
- [114-hr-5044: Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika viru…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5044)
- [114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4592)
- [114-hr-3268: PAST Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3268)
- [114-hr-2902: Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2015](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2902)
- [114-hr-2867: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2867)
- [114-hr-2722: Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2722)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4187 (as of 2025-11-18).