By: Mauri Curi and Michaela Ross

A key lawmaker on reproductive healthcare and privacy is calling on Congress to pass a law that protects sensitive health data as the US Sunday marked the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize abortion.

The Supreme Court last year overturned the 1973 case Roe v. Wade, sparking concern that people seeking or providing abortions could have their data—for example, taken from Google searches—used against them by law enforcement in states where it is criminalized.

“Following the reversal of Roe and the enactment of draconian state laws concerning reproductive health care, it is urgent that Congress protect the privacy of all Americans seeking reproductive health care,” Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas) told Bloomberg Government. “Congress must carefully consider the implications of any data or privacy legislation that comes before us through this lens, and we must have an open, honest, and robust examination of its implications, doing all we can to ensure the broadest possible protection.”

Fletcher is whip of the House Pro-Choice Caucus and is likely to once again serve on the House Energy & Commerce consumer protection subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over privacy legislation. Fletcher supported the American Data Privacy and Protection Act, which failed in the last Congress but will be a starting point for efforts this year. As it stands now, the bill would prohibit companies from collecting or transferring sensitive data without getting a consumer’s express affirmative consent.

The bill is expected to change under the panel’s leadership of Washington Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Some groups are expecting Republicans to water down the legislation’s private right of action enforcement mechanism, which would allow individuals to directly sue companies, Maria Curi reports.

Read at Bloomberg Government