Equifax settlement revives congressional push on FTC consumer-data powers

The settlement with Equifax announced Monday has stoked interest in consumer data security legislation -- including enhancing the Federal Trade Commission's powers and setting new rules for credit agencies -- though congressional insiders say the issue could remain bogged down this year in the larger debate over a national privacy standard.

“It's very unlikely the Senate will pass a privacy bill before the elections, Republicans and Democrats are still very far apart,” said one Senate source, who suggested that the...