WASHINGTON-The House Judiciary subcommittees kicked off their effort to look into data security issues, an expected hot topic of legislation this year, and Internet gambling legislation prior to its two-week spring recess. The subcommittees on Commercial and Administrative Law, and the Constitution held a joint hearing entitled, Personal Information Acquired by the Government from Information Resellers: Is There Need for Improvement? The move was a first step for this committee's work on data security legislation. The House Financial Services and Commerce committees have already introduced their own bills. "It's premature to say you have anything definitive," Bill Donovan, partner with Venable LLP, commented. "The various committees are working on bills and there are various approaches taken by the committees." He did point out that the amendment offered by Congressman Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.), and subsequently withdrawn, shows the "sensitivity" of Congress to the current data security requirements already placed on financial institutions. Fossella made the same effort during a markup in the Financial Services Committee, as he is a member of both committees. At press time, the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security was holding a hearing on the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act (H.R. 4777). Congress is scheduled to be in recess from April 7 through 23.