The Redmond company, sustains a national law for protecting consumer privacy, and has a Republican lawmaker on its side.

Microsoft made Thursday an announcement that sustains a national law to protect consumer privacy and Joe Barton, the House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman, said he plans to introduce a privacy bill next year.

“This is the time, this is the place, we believe, for the government to adopt privacy legislation on a national basis,” Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith said. “A single federal approach will create a common standard for protection that consumers and businesses can understand and count on,”

Microsoft is pessimistic about Online Commerce industry’s future if things don’t change. Consumers need to be sure that their information don’t fall in to the wrong hands. “Individuals will not take full advantage of the Internet or any commercial medium if they believe that their information or data could be compromised or disclosed in unexpected ways,” Smith said.

Here’s how the software maker sees the new legislative package: a standard for data collection, increased transparency in collection and disclosure practices, more control for consumers as to who may see or use their personal information, and assurances as to a minimum level of security required when data is being stored or in transit.

“A comprehensive legislative approach to privacy that applies across the country would be part of the solution to give all consumers strong privacy and security protection, and allow everyone to realize the full potential that the Internet and technology can provide.” – Peter Cullen, Microsoft’s privacy strategist.