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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing titled Fixing Biden’s Broadband Blunder . “I hope this new Congress and the urgency of this moment will inspire bipartisan cooperation on this effort. We must do everything we can to remove these unnecessary barriers to deployment,” said Chairman Hudson. “Unserved Americans have waited too long for the promise of connectivity. But now is the moment to close the digital divide once and for all.” Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from yesterday's hearing: Representative Neal Dunn (FL-02): “We spent 65 billion in the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act, the IIJA, to support broadband activities, and we have nothing to show for it. We have a poster that shows how much money was put into a number of these different programs – not all of them, just some of the bigger ones. In fact, they’re over 130 programs in total.” Representative Buddy Carter (GA-01): “Let’s face it, the past 4 years under the Biden Harris administration has been nothing short of a disaster for broadband deployment and expansion to America, and it’s because of the permitting process. Permitting delays have, have resulted in And, and, and the can and halting the construction of Bo band infrastructure, even in my own district of, of Georgia in the first congressional district.” Representative Erin Houchin (IN-09): “Back in the Indiana State Senate, I worked on broadband legislation trying to get access to unserved areas. As noted in some of your testimonies, we have seen overbuilding technologies that are picking winners and losers in some of these funding opportunities. One of the things that I wanted to do is make sure that any broadband that was deployed went to areas that had zero access first and then we would build to uh toward higher speeds.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, announced a hearing to explore potential opportunities for the restoration/remediation of brownfield sites to be used for the development of critical infrastructure. “As we look to grow American innovation, it’s time to examine the EPA’s Brownfield Site program and explore how these legacy sites can be used to support the development of critical infrastructure that will be vital to maintaining America’s competitive advantage,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith. “This hearing is an opportunity for us to examine the implementation of EPA’s Brownfields program and the work that needs to be done to clean up those sites for redevelopment, especially in emerging industries like data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, and AI infrastructure. Together, we look forward to examining how Congress can continue to encourage innovation and address any challenges that might create obstacles to new development in our communities.” Subcommittee on Environment hearing titled Maximizing Opportunities for Redeveloping Brownfield Sites: Assessing the Potential for New American Innovation .  WHAT: Subcommittee on Environment Hearing on Renewing Brownfield Sites     DATE: Tuesday, March 11, 2025          TIME: 10:15 AM ET     LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building     This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Calvin Huggins at Calvin.Huggins1@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov .  ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, issued the following statement after the House passed H.J. Res. 42, to rescind a Biden-Harris Administration rule that places additional costs and red tape on appliance manufacturers and ultimately American consumers by a vote of 222 to 203. “The passage of H.J. Res. 42 is another important step toward keeping our commitment to lower prices for American families,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s DOE energy efficiency standards have led to less choice for Americans, more expensive products, and a system that is biased against affordable and reliable natural gas. Thank you to Congressman Clyde for his work on this issue and his commitment to supporting the American households and families who ultimately have borne the cost of the Biden-Harris Administration’s failed policies.”  “House Republicans passed legislation to remove the Biden Administration’s handcuffs on American energy and protect American workers, consumers, and businesses. We are working alongside the Trump Administration to restore American energy dominance,” said Speaker Johnson. “From a harmful EPA rule standing in the way of the rubber tire manufacturing industry, to radical unnecessary energy efficiency standards, House Republicans are putting a stop to the Biden Administration’s damaging regulations that hurt the American people. We will continue helping President Trump implement his energy agenda to ensure lower costs, create jobs and restore consumer choice.” Background:  H.J.Res.42 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Certification Requirements, Labeling Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions for Certain Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment" would rescind a rule creating new certification, labeling, and enforcement provisions for various consumer products and commercial equipment. This final rule amended or created new certification, labeling, and enforcement requirements for 20 products, including dishwashers, central AC and heat pumps, clothes washers, and more. Additional certification, labeling, and reporting requirements will increase costs and slow the development of products. Further, the Department of Energy estimates these requirements will increase annual costs by $213,000 for manufacturers and result in an additional 2,905 hours of paperwork for companies to complete. ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement after the House passed H.J. Res. 61, to rescind a Biden-Harris Administration rule that imposes burdensome regulations on American tire manufacturers by a vote of 216 to 202. “Flawed rule making during the Biden-Harris Administration has led to burdensome new requirements for job creators here in the United States. As we continue working to onshore manufacturing, it’s critical that we repeal the disastrous far-left policies that raised prices, slowed growth, and failed to meet the needs of the American people,” said Chairman Guthrie. “I am grateful to Chairman Griffith for his leadership on this issue and his commitment to supporting American tire manufacturing.”  “House Republicans passed legislation to remove the Biden Administration’s handcuffs on American energy and protect American workers, consumers, and businesses. We are working alongside the Trump Administration to restore American energy dominance,” said Speaker Johnson. “From a harmful EPA rule standing in the way of the rubber tire manufacturing industry, to radical unnecessary energy efficiency standards, House Republicans are putting a stop to the Biden Administration’s damaging regulations that hurt the American people. We will continue helping President Trump implement his energy agenda to ensure lower costs, create jobs and restore consumer choice.” “In our commitment to lowering costs and protecting the American manufacturing sector, House Republicans are aggressively dismantling the Biden regulatory regime and protecting good, well-paying American manufacturing jobs,” said Chairman Griffith. “Passage of my Congressional Review Act reverses an onerous, last-minute Biden regulation and provides essential relief to rubber tire manufacturers in Virginia and the rest of the United States. I thank the Republican Conference and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led by Chairman Guthrie, for their support to rein in burdensome and costly regulations.” Background:  H.J.Res. 61 – Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Rubber Tire Manufacturing" would repeal the rule implementing the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the rubber tire manufacturing sector. This rule was finalized on November 29, 2024, and will create costly and unnecessary regulatory requirements for American tire manufacturers, raising prices and threatening manufacturing jobs. ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled  Fixing Biden's Broadband Blunder. Subcommittee Chairman Hudson's opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Closing the digital divide is a top priority for this Committee. Too many Americans, particularly those in rural America, like so many places in my home state of North Carolina, lack access to reliable high-speed broadband. With so much of everyday life requiring an internet connection, this is a vital need. “Since 2020, Congress has provided billions of dollars to connect unserved Americans. The most significant effort is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or I-I-J-A. This massive bill included the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). “It has been over 3 years since the IIJA became law, and we are still waiting for the first home to be connected using these funds. I think we should understand how this happened.  “First, FCC maps that Biden-FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel said would be ready in “months” instead took much longer to develop.  “Then, the Biden-Harris Administration saddled the BEAD program with regulations unrelated to broadband to appease left-wing interest groups.  “These included technology preferences, burdensome labor rules, and climate change requirements, to name a few.  “Worse, the Biden Administration flagrantly ignored the law by forcing states to regulate broadband rates before NTIA would approve their proposals, even though the law explicitly prohibits rate regulation. “These actions did nothing to deploy broadband but instead created confusion while making the program less attractive to providers and deployment more expensive.  “Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans are committed to fixing these blunders so that every American has access to broadband as quickly as possible.  “That’s why today, I—along with many Republicans on this Committee—introduced the SPEED for BEAD Act.  “This bill would eliminate the burdensome Biden regulations so that we can get money out the door and shovels into the ground as soon as possible.  “Specifically, this bill would eliminate the unnecessary and expensive regulations NTIA imposed, further clarify that rate regulation by NTIA or any other entity is prohibited, ensure that the program is run on a technology-neutral basis, and more efficiently use tax dollars by ensuring that awards to providers are cost effective and that funds are only used for deployment.  “These changes to the BEAD program can be implemented quickly, provide certainty to the states, and not hinder the progress that states have already made.  “And I’m excited to hear that Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, just a few minutes ago, announced that he’s launching a review of the BEAD program to cut red tape, eliminate waste, and make sure Americans get connected faster. I’m thrilled to have him join me in this effort.  “Reforming BEAD is one important step to ensuring every American has broadband, but it is not enough. We also need to reform the permitting process for broadband projects. If we do not reform this process, all of this money will get tied up in burdensome permitting reviews resulting in more unnecessary delays.  “For the past three Congresses, Energy and Commerce Republicans have introduced legislation to streamline the broadband permitting process.  “We have proposed codifying existing shot clocks to provide predictability in state and local permit reviews, exempting previously disturbed lands from duplicative and burdensome environmental and historic preservation reviews, and instilling transparency and urgency in permitting on federal lands. “Some of these bills had bipartisan support and passed the House last Congress.  “Unfortunately, Democrats refused to work with us on the most meaningful reforms, which were included in Representative Carter’s American Broadband Deployment Act.  “I hope this new Congress and the urgency of this moment will inspire bipartisan cooperation on this effort. We must do everything we can to remove these unnecessary barriers to deployment. “Unserved Americans have waited too long for the promise of connectivity.  “But now is the moment to close the digital divide once and for all.  “Today’s hearing is an opportunity to hear from stakeholders about how to address the challenges that could stop that from happening. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses.  “I now yield five minutes to my colleague, Ranking Member Doris Matsui, for her opening statement.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled  Scaling For Growth: Meeting The Demand For Reliable, Affordable Electricity. Subcommittee Chairman Latta's opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Welcome to today’s hearing ‘Scaling for Growth: Meeting the Demand for Reliable, Affordable Electricity.’ “Today, we will discuss the state of our nation’s bulk power system and the opportunities that lie ahead in the next generation economy.  “Our nation’s electric grid, built over the course of almost 150 years, has been referred to as the most complex, sophisticated machine known to mankind.   “When operating correctly, the U.S. grid efficiently delivers low cost, reliable energy to communities of all sizes.   “Through extensive planning, coordination, and collaboration from a host of government and industry partners, this complex process seamlessly responds in real time to maintain reliability in both normal and extreme weather conditions. “Yet today, historic increases in electricity demand, primarily from energy intensive AI models and domestic manufacturing, are exposing key impediments to the ability of utilities, grid operators, and generators to keep the lights on.   “When the lights go out, people’s lives are at stake.   “The entities charged with overseeing our electric grid have been warning of potential shortfalls under normal weather conditions – extreme weather or unforeseen circumstances could turn catastrophic.   “In 2025 alone, the Energy Information Administration projects that 12.3 gigawatts of coal capacity are set to retire. By the end of the decade, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation projects as high as 52 gigawatts of thermal generation will retire.   “The stakes could not be higher.   “Across the world, our adversaries are actively seeking to undermine US leadership on the world stage to write the rules of the next generation economy.   “Nations like communist China, who does not share our democratic values, are seeking to develop world leading AI models through an authoritarian, military lens to export their command-and-control style of governance across the world.   “Yet within this emerging crisis, there’s an opportunity for our nation to correct course and grow job creating industries here at home.  “But to get there, we need more energy and we need it fast.  “The Department of Energy’s Berkeley Lab estimates that U.S. data center load growth alone is projected to double or triple by 2028.   “My district, home to over 86,000 manufacturing jobs, is keenly aware of the energy demands of industrial facilities.   “Unfortunately, misguided decisions of the Biden administration severely constrained our avenues to increase and strengthen energy production.  “The Clean Power Plan 2.0 is driving accelerated pre-mature retirements of baseload power.   “Permitting barriers for new natural gas pipeline infrastructure are handicapping regions of the country, such as the Northeast, that are desperate for energy.   “Meanwhile, subsidized intermittent energy resources and public policy decisions to favor renewable energy are flooding interconnection queues and making baseload power from coal, natural gas, and nuclear near uneconomic.   “Making a bad situation worse, generation developers continue experiencing ongoing supply chain constraints for distribution transformers and generation turbines.   “As we will hear today, House Republicans are not alone in raising the alarm.   “Today’s discussion will help illuminate the ways in which grid operators, utilities, and co-ops are all addressing these challenging dynamics to protect reliability and affordability while providing the opportunity to grow job creating industries.   “The witnesses before us will provide a wholistic view of the nation’s electricity system, the unique characteristics of each respective region of the country, and the challenges facing different grid governing regimes.   “PJM, the nation’s largest Regional Transmission Organization, which spans 13 states and Washington, D.C. including my home state of Ohio, organizes competitive wholesale markets to buy and sell electricity and monitors reliability standards across their multistate footprint.  “In the West, Basin Electric Co-operative members serve three million consumers across nine states, spanning both vertically integrated states and organized markets.   “Southern Company, a traditional vertically integrated utility, reliably serves customers across the southeast with a diverse portfolio of generating resources.   “I look forward to the discussion today about how each respective entity and region are confronting this new frontier of demand expansion.   “This committee will play an integral role in laying the groundwork to unlock the necessary capital investment for job creating industries, while ensuring affordable and reliable energy for American households and small businesses.   “Thank you and I yield back the balance of my time.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, released the statement below following President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress: “Tonight, President Trump highlighted the many significant achievements his Administration has already accomplished while sharing an inspirational vision to restore the American Dream,”  said Chairman Guthrie .  “I look forward to continuing my work with the Committee on Energy and Commerce to deliver the America First agenda by revitalizing American energy dominance, ensuring that America remains at the forefront in technological innovation, and lowering the cost of health care.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup . Chairman Guthrie's opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Thank you all for being here for our first legislative markup of the 119th Congress. This Committee has a rich, bipartisan history, which we will continue in that spirit with the bills we are considering today. “Each of these bipartisan pieces of legislation was passed by the House last Congress, and I am proud that we will be moving these forward again today. “We must make sure that government stands ready to partner with innovators to continue promoting technological advancement.  “One bill proposed today will help improve wireless services for farmers utilizing precision agriculture. Another will work to improve American cybersecurity and protect our networks from bad actors. “Together, these bills can help to prepare our infrastructure to withstand cyber threats, while also ensuring our wireless infrastructure is calibrated to the needs of the 21st Century. “I thank the sponsors for their leadership and continued work getting these bills across the finish line. “We will also be continuing our work to shore up American supply chains and secure our critical infrastructure. Our adversaries are constantly launching threats to our supply chains, especially in critical industries, emphasizing the need for great resiliency. “Legislation like the Global Investment in American Jobs Act will help attract more investment in the United States, supporting our American workers. “Bolstering American manufacturing and reducing our reliance on China should be priorities for all of us, and I look forward to advancing legislation to do just that. “Next, we will consider legislation to protect Americans from potentially dangerous products and technologies.  “The Awning Safety Act of 2025 will instruct the CPSC to create a safety standard for fixed and freestanding awnings, in memory of Dr. Michael Hnat (NAT) who tragically lost his life in an awning accident. “I again want to thank all of the sponsors and advocates who helped us make this legislation the best it can be.  “I always say the work we do here in the House affects people in their homes, and I think that is on display with the bipartisan legislation we are considering today. “We have a lot more work to do this Congress, but I am proud that we are able to start with legislation that unites this Committee in securing American leadership and eliminating unnecessary risks to people’s safety. “I thank you all for your work, and I look forward to advancing these bills to the full House.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled  Moving the Goalposts: How NIL is Reshaping College Athletics. Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis' opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Good morning and thank you to our witnesses for being here. I’m really excited to hold this hearing today on the evolving landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness—commonly known as NIL—and its impact on college athletics.   “In just a few years, college athletics has fundamentally reshaped the lives of student-athletes who can now benefit from their NIL. Before 2021, athletes were barred from profiting off of their own NIL, but in response to legal challenges and a Supreme Court decision, the NCAA ended those restrictions, finally giving our student-athletes their much-deserved ability to earn compensation for their brand and God given talent. “However, the absence of a preemptive uniform standard has led to a 'Wild West' environment where, sadly, our student athletes are put in vulnerable positions where they can easily be exploited by those who do not have their best interests in mind. I’ve heard awful stories of student athletes signing deals without having been given full explanations for how their deal would impact their long-term finances and livelihood.   “This lack of structure has also allowed NIL collectives, who are often affiliated with universities but operating independently, to turn NIL into a pay-for-play system. Instead of being used for legitimate business opportunities, NIL deals are frequently given out as recruiting inducements, with little transparency or oversight. “I’m also concerned about the transfer portal. All of us want to make sure student athletes have the freedom to make the best collegiate and educational decisions for themselves and for their future. “But this current system is not workable as athletes are entering the portal at an unprecedented rate, sometimes multiple times in their careers with a hope, but not a guarantee, for something better. “I’m sure we have all heard the stories of student athletes being encouraged to transfer schools based on promises of NIL money that never materializes. Others transfer expecting better playing time, only to find themselves in a worse situation. This revolving-door system has created instability for both athletes and the programs they leave behind, with many student-athletes ending up without a clear academic or athletic path. “We often focus on NIL and the business side of college athletics, but we must remember that these are still student athletes—young men and women who are supposed to be receiving an education that prepares them for a life beyond sports. Yet, too many are making life-altering financial and academic decisions without the proper guidance. “Some are signing NIL deals without understanding tax and legal implications. Others are transferring from school to school without receiving the academic support they need to graduate.  “If we are serious about protecting student-athletes, we need to ensure they have the resources and education necessary to navigate this new era successfully.  That’s why I’m so glad to have Emily and Anthony with us today. Thank you for sharing your stories as student athletes and how you were able to traverse this complex environment. It gives all student athletes the chance to learn and better themselves.  “That brings me to a point I really want to drive home. We are working on this issue, not to put one school over another, even though, and cover your ears, Coach Beamer, I would love to see my Florida Gators hoist that championship trophy again soon. “No, we are doing this for the student athletes, for the young men and women who advance to college so that they can continue playing the sports they love and use that experience to help them succeed throughout their lives. “So, it is crucial we establish a preemptive standard that protects student-athletes but also doesn’t endanger the many sports programs that we don’t see on ESPN or that bring in billions of dollars. “This is too important of an issue to get wrong, so I look forward to a thoughtful discussion and working toward solutions that support both student-athletes and the long-term future of college sports. “With that, I yield back.” ###