House, Holding Off on Privacy Laws, Calls for Study

A House subcommittee approved a bill that would set up a commission to study the need for privacy legislation, reports said.

The bill would establish a 17-member commission to study industry and government privacy initiatives, and would report on the need for laws or industry self-regulation after 18 months.

But critics say the move is a way to stall financial, medical and Internet privacy regulation from moving forward.

The bill, H.R. 4049, was approved on a voice vote. It is sponsored by Reps. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR) and James Moran (D-VA).