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Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez called on Congress to strengthen data security and breach notification requirements to help the commission deter unlawful conduct during a hearing Tuesday of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

"Legislation in both areas – data security and breach notification – should give the FTC the ability to seek civil penalties to help deter unlawful conduct, jurisdiction over non-profits, and rulemaking authority under the Administrative Procedure Act," Ramirez noted in her opening remarks to the committee.

Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said that he agreed that consumers "should be protected against unreasonable data security practices that put them at risk of identity theft and financial harm," during his opening remarks.

The two other FTC commissioners present during yesterday's hearing also said they supported comprehensive data security legislation.

NAFCU continues to push for a strong national data security standard through the "Data Security Act" (H.R. 2205/S. 961), which would hold retailers and others to the same standards credit unions already follow under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and institute strict consumer notification requirements.