WASHINGTON – August 20, 2018 – BSA | The Software Alliance and other industry leaders sent a multi-industry letter to US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo urging him to put forward a qualified candidate to serve as the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. In addition to advocating for open markets and fair trade policies, the Under Secretary plays a critical role as Ombudsperson for the US-EU Privacy Shield Framework, which facilities trans-Atlantic data transfers and is essential to almost every US industry. Businesses must be able to data move freely around the world in order to realize the benefits of software, which contributes more than $1 trillion to the US economy and supports more than 10 million US jobs.

ACT | The App Association, the Coalition of Services Industries, the Computer & Communications Industry Association, Engine, the Information Technology Industry Council, the Interactive Advertising Bureau, the Internet Association, the National Retail Federation, the Software & Information Industry Association, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the US Council for International Business also signed the letter. We look forward to working with the Administration to ensure an appointee’s swift confirmation.