The Hill, February 23, 2016

By Victoria A. Espinel

At long last the House has passed the Judicial Redress Act. This needed legislation will form a critical part of a stable and trustworthy structure for free flow of data across borders, which is so essential to economic growth in our digital economy. Importantly, signing the Judicial Redress Act into law also will further harmonize U.S. and European privacy protections.

The legislation calls for granting foreign nationals protections that U.S. nationals enjoy under the 1974 Privacy Act — notably, the right to sue for intentional misuse of their personal information contained in U.S. law enforcement records. The president signing the Judicial Redress Act into law will help clear the way for the U.S. and European Union to sign the Data Privacy and Protection Agreement, which protects citizens’ privacy rights when law enforcement agencies cooperate on a trans-Atlantic basis. Additionally, it will provide a solid basis for law enforcement agencies to share information when it is necessary to prevent, investigate and prosecute serious crimes, including terrorism.

Leadership in both the House and Senate has been critical in reaching this point on this truly groundbreaking initiative. If President Obama seizes the opportunity to sign it into law, the results will benefit us all.

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Original Posting: http://thehill.com/opinion/letters/270323-congress-petty-over-court-vacancy