Consumer Bankruptcy Journal Spring 2016 | Page 8

LEGISLATIVE REPORT By Maureen Thompson NACBA Legislative Director Y ou have heard us say for some time now that the dysfunctional Congress prevents action on a number of major issues that, in ordinary times, would result in legislative action. And, though it didn’t seem it could get any worse, the Supreme Court vacancy has the potential to grind the legislative machinery to a complete halt. the emerging privacy concerns facing those who file for bankruptcy. The committee members participated in more than a dozen meetings with staff to key House and Senate Republicans and Democrats, as well as with representatives from the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees (NABT) and privacy experts. electronic bankruptcy court records that is accessible by the general public via the Internet. The ease by which bankruptcy filer information may be accessed raises questions about the potential for data mining by financial institutions, employers, insurance companies and others. Stay tuned for more information on this issue. Having said that, this period of relative “quiet” (at least in the context of actual legislating) on Capitol Hill is an ideal time to talk with staff that are in a position to delve into issues that have been ignored for too long. So, while we don’t expect much legislative action this year, NACBA has maintained a very visible presence in Congress, pushing the issues we care so much about and responding to issues that others p