Congressman David Rouzer announced on Apr. 16 the introduction of legislation aimed at establishing data protection standards at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The bipartisan bill, H.R. 8125, known as the CFTC Proprietary Information Act of 2026, was introduced with Congressman David Scott and seeks to strengthen safeguards for investors’ sensitive information.
The legislation addresses concerns about how the CFTC handles confidential information from investment institutions and aims to prevent data breaches or misuse. Rouzer said, “The CFTC has a responsibility for oversight and enforcement of investment institutions, but they must also safeguard sensitive data collected. This bill establishes clear protections for that information and data, providing confidence and security in the markets for all involved.”
Scott added that “the lack of clear guardrails at the CFTC for requesting and protecting proprietary data creates unnecessary risk for market participation, especially for those whose strategies rely on highly sensitive data.” He continued, “This bill sets commonsense rules to ensure regulators can access the information they need while safeguarding confidential data and maintaining trust in our financial system.”
During a House Committee on Agriculture hearing with CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig, Rouzer highlighted the importance of passing H.R. 8125 to harmonize standards around sensitive investor information.
According to details released by Rouzer’s office, current protocols at the CFTC do not clearly define how confidential investor information should be handled or secured. The proposed act would require the commission to define circumstances under which it may request or require such information; establish security protocols—including measures against unlawful disclosures and limits on employee access; and develop interagency plans for secure sharing across federal agencies.
Both Rouzer and Scott serve on the House Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development overseeing operations of the CFTC.
Rouzer has represented North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District since defeating Jonathan Barfield Jr. in 2014 according to Ballotpedia. He won reelection against J. Wesley Casteen in 2016 according to Ballotpedia, Kyle Horton in 2018 according to Ballotpedia, Chris Ward in 2020 according to Ballotpedia, Charles Graham in 2022 according to Ballotpedia, and Marlando Pridgen in 2024 according to Ballotpedia.
Looking ahead, supporters say that passage of this legislation could provide greater confidence among investors regarding how their proprietary financial information is managed by federal regulators.
