A House committee Wednesday heard testimony about the potential impacts of biometric technologies on privacy rights as legislators consider laws to balance benefits of this technology against expectations of privacy.

"The America Competes Act, which I'm helping to conference with the Senate, contains a number of provisions that will future proof the government's definitions and standards for biometric identification systems and invest in privacy enhancing technologies," said Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., chair of the House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight.

Committee ranking Member Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., said biometrics like facial recognition have benefits, but also pose privacy risks.

"Biometrics bring a lot of benefits to our lives and we want to make sure that we continue to allow those benefits while protecting the privacy of the people that rely on biometrics," Obernolte said.

He said that a better understanding of the technology and carefully developed safeguards and standards will help develop biometrics "in a way that provides safety for people's privacy without stifling the innovations that's going to lead to future breakthroughs and benefits to society."

Dr.Charles Romine of the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology told the hearing NIST is working on privacy standards for biometrics.

"Privacy plays a critical role in safeguarding fundamental values such as human autonomy and dignity, as well as civil rights and civil liberties," Dr. Romine said. "NIST has prioritized research and the creation of frameworks, guidance, tools and standards that protect privacy."

He said the NIST privacy framework "provides the structure for organizations to consider which privacy protected outcomes are suitable to their use cases."

"NIST has prioritized research and the creation of frameworks, guidance, tools and standards that protect privacy," Dr. Romine told the House committee.

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