Dear Governor Northam:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform applaud Senator David Marsden and Delegate Cliff Hayes for their leadership by sponsoring the Consumer Data Protection Act (“CDPA”). Data is used for societally beneficial purposes such as research, fraud protection, financial inclusion, public safety, and improving health outcomes.1 The data-driven economy is helping keep the “digital lights” on for many businesses during COVID-19 pandemic, and it is imperative that consumers trust their privacy is protected.
Although the Chamber views it as urgent that Congress enact national privacy legislation that protects all Americans equally, we support the framework established in the CDPA. The Act, while not perfect, represents a good model for regulatory certainty for citizens and businesses in the Commonwealth because it gives consumers clearly identifiable privacy rights and strikes the right balance on enforcement.
We look forward to working with you to ensure that Virginia continues to protect consumer privacy and promote innovation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Tom Quaadman
Executive Vice President
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Harold Kim
President
U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform
