The bill, introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a senior member on the Judiciary Committee, follows a similar California law with slightly tougher provisions that takes effect next week.

Both Feinstein's proposal and the new California law contrast with efforts by the Bush administration to keep from the public details about major computer crimes to encourage hacking victims to notify the FBI and other government investigators. The FBI director and some top U.S. prosecutors assured technology executives just months ago they will increasingly work to keep secret the names of companies that become victims to major hacking crimes.

The proposed federal law would not affect the new California law, the first of its kind in the nation. But it would prevent other states from passing similar statutes.

Unlike California's new law, the federal law would not allow consumers to sue companies for failing to notify them and it gives companies more flexibility in how they make such announcements.

Still, consumer groups and others praised the effort.

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