Maria's Monday Memo

Maria's Monday Memo
Senator Maria Cantwell's Weekly Memo Monday, March 22, 2004

Protecting Consumer Privacy by Studying "Spyware"

Tomorrow I will join my colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee to discuss an important issue: the growing threat to consumers' privacy posed by the growing problem of "spyware." "Spyware" is a general term for software or software features that are downloaded onto a computer without a computer user's explicit knowledge and consent, either by misleading users into downloading spyware or by piggybacking the spyware onto other software the user intends to download. Common spyware features include gathering users' personal identifiable information or keystroke data, or tracking information and transmitting that information back to the spyware's creator over the Internet. Typically, spyware operates in the background and is designed to be virtually impossible for the average computer user to remove.

It has yet to attract widespread attention, but spyware is clearly a growing threat to computer users' privacy. One report suggests that as many as 20 million computer users may have spyware on their computers. The only way to keep a machine completely free of spyware is to install and use software specially designed for this task. Consumers should also practice good Internet habits by installing firewalls, customizing their cookie settings, and being vigilant about what programs they download, and from whom.

Supporting Small Businesses and the Jobs They Create

Last week I met with small business owners and local leaders in Spokane and Seattle to discuss how we can do more to support small businesses. Our economy is still stagnant, and too many people are out of work. But small businesses have the promise to lead our economy back to full health. As a former executive of a small company that succeeded and a member of the Small Business Committee, I know that encouraging small business growth should be a top priority for boosting the economy. In fact, nearly 75 percent of new jobs created in Washington state since 1996 came from small businesses.

Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has proposed cutting a loan program that's vital for small business owners, the Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) loan program, which provides loan guarantees to small businesses that are not able to obtain private financing through normal lending channels. That's why I will soon introduce legislation to boost this program, not curtail it, by increasing lending authority, removing the Bush administration's suffocating caps on 7(a) loans, stopping increases in loan fees, and ensuring the Administration does not succeed in tying the hands of lenders by slashing current loan guarantee levels. By giving small business owners the tools to succeed, together we can turn this economy around.

Working to Improve the Security of Our Rails and Ports

This week I will attend two important hearings of the Commerce Committee on issues of homeland security that are important to the nation and to Washington state, in particular. On Tuesday, we'll discuss an important related issue - security of passengers and freight on our nation's rails. I believe that federal agencies have not devoted sufficient resources to making our railways safe. The tragic bombing of trains in Madrid, Spain, is an urgent reminder that this is a very serious issue.

On Wednesday, the committee will discuss port security. More than 100,000 workers in the Puget Sound have jobs related to our ports, which generate over $700 million each year for our state. But for our economy to grow, and for our citizens to be safe, our ports must be secure. I'm proud of my work with Sen. Patty Murray to improve port security, and I look forward to talking about what more can be done.

Pressing for Accountability for Pharmacy Benefit Managers

This week, I'll meet with the new Administrator for the Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Mark McClellan, to discuss what his agency is doing to address the issue of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). PBMs are the companies that administer a prescription drug benefit for large employers, health care plans, and the government. The market share controlled by PBMs has soared in recent years; today, the benefits of 90 percent of Americans with prescription drug coverage are administered by PBMs. But these companies have come under scrutiny for cost-cutting measures and conflicts of interest. Last year I worked hard to pass legislation to reform PBMs' interaction with Medicare, but it was stripped out of the final bill. I asked Dr. McClellan about this issue at a hearing last week, and I will follow up with him when we meet. Although my amendment was removed, the problem remains, and I'll keep working to see that is solved for the benefit of all consumers.