WASHINGTON — September 9, 2015 — BSA | The Software Alliance will today present Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA, 6th District) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) with the inaugural BSA Software Champion Awards for their support of the software industry and their steadfast and determined advocacy efforts on critical issues including trade, patent reform, and the balance between security and privacy.

BSA notes that Chairman Goodlatte and Senator Wyden showed true leadership in securing the recent passage of the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015, which restricts the bulk collection of Americans’ data by intelligence agencies, and of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation, which includes strong, clear, and enforceable rules to ensure the free global flow of data.

“Chairman Goodlatte and Senator Wyden understand the amazing things software helps people do, from improving our everyday lives to growing our economies around the world,” said Victoria Espinel, President and CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance. “They are effective legislators fighting for issues our members care about. In doing so, they send a strong message that a sensible, proactive agenda can be passed into law. The BSA Software Champion Awards are proud to recognize their commitment to fostering a thriving global software industry, and a growing digital economy.”

Chairman Goodlatte is Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture. He has championed privacy as far back as the “Crypto Wars” of the 1990s, and in 1996 introduced the Security and Freedom Through Encryption (SAFE) Act to help protect the privacy of US citizens.

“Chairman Goodlatte has been a longtime supporter of the software industry,” noted Espinel. “He continues to advocate for passage of important legislation including modernizing the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), patent and immigration reform, and he has been a thoughtful leader on copyright issues for decades. His efforts to pass the USA FREEDOM Act led to reform of our nation’s intelligence-gathering programs and increased transparency for both American businesses and the government.”

Senator Wyden is Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Senate Budget Committee, and the Select Committee on Intelligence. The Senator has long supported efforts to create, promote and protect a free and open Internet, and to defend Americans' civil liberties, from authoring Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to fighting mass surveillance by the National Security Agency.

“Senator Wyden has helped put digital trade at the forefront, introducing legislation that would reduce current trade barriers and modernize policies that affect cross border data flow,” said Espinel. “His efforts have helped protect privacy by ending overly broad data collection and increasing transparency.”

The awards will be presented September 9 at a “back-in-session reception” sponsored by BSA | The Software Alliance, held at BSA’s global headquarters in Washington, DC.