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Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) today announced a hearing titled “Proposals to Enhance Product Safety and Transparency for Americans.”  “Energy and Commerce is leading to ensure the safety of our kids, protect Americans from harms, and strengthen U.S. technological leadership. We look forward to discussing several proposals next week aimed at improving people’s lives, increasing safety, and encouraging business practices that promote transparency for the costs of items, like concert tickets, and hidden fees.” Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce legislative hearing titled Proposals to Enhance Product Safety and Transparency for Americans.”   WHAT: Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee legislative hearing on proposals to enhance product safety and transparency.  DATE: Wednesday, September 27, 2023  TIME: 10:30 AM ET  LOCATION: 2322 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at www.energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Jessica Herron at Jessica.Herron@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Sean Kelly at Sean.Kelly@mail.house.gov .  The following draft legislation will be discussed:  H.R. 2964 , The Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act (Reps. McClain and Peltola)   H.R. 3950 , The Transparency In Charges for Key Events Ticketing (TICKET) Act (Reps. Bilirakis and Schakowsky)   H.R. 3660, The Better Oversight of Stub Sales and Strengthening Well Informed and Fair Transactions for Audiences of Concert Ticketing (BOSS and SWIFT) Act of 2023 (Reps. Pascrell, Pallone, Brownley, and Del. Holmes Norton)   H.R. 5202 , The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Reauthorization Act (Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Burgess, Carter, Allred, Castor, Williams, Garcia, Flood, Ross, Bacon, and Gottheimer)  H.R. 4310, The Youth Poisoning Protection Act (Reps. Trahan, Carey, Porter, and Stewart)   H.R. 4814, The Consumer Safety Technology Act (Reps. Soto, Burgess, Trahan, and Guthrie)   H.R. 5556 , The Reinforcing American-Made Products Act (Rep. Curtis)   H.R. ___, The No Hidden Fees on Extra Expenses for Stays Act (Rep. Kim)   H.R. ___ , The Online Dating Safety Act of 2023 (Rep. Valadao)   H.R. ___ , To amend the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act to establish a Federal standard relating to ingredient disclosure in cleaning products, and for other purposes (Rep. Bucshon)  H.R. 1797, The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act (Reps. Torres, Garbarino, Clarke, Ryan, Bowman, D'Esposito, Espaillat, and Goldman)  H.R._906, The Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair Act (REPAIR) Act (Reps. Dunn, Boyle, Davidson, and Gluesenkamp Perez)  H.R. ___ , The Consumer Product Safety Commission Awning Safety Discussion Draft  H.R. ____ , The Speculative Ticketing Ban Discussion Draft 

Washington, D.C. — Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) delivered opening re marks at today’s Subcommittee legislative hearing titled " Mapping America’s Supply Chains: Solutions to Unleash Innovation, Boost Economic Resilience, and Beat China ."  Prepared remarks below:  BOLSTERING AMERICA'S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP  "Good morning, everyone. Welcome to today’s hearing on legislation that will help bolster America’s global leadership and secure our nation’s economic and national security.  "Since this committee was created in 1795, it has had a clear purpose on how to promote interstate commerce domestically and conduct business abroad. Learning how our supply chains work and ensuring their integrity is an integral part of that work and historically has not been a partisan issue.  "More recently, this was on display in several emerging technology supply chain bills that formed Chair Rodger’s bipartisan American COMPETE Act legislation that became law in 2020."  NEED TO STRENGTHEN SUPPLE CHAINS AFTER PANDEMIC  "As we learned from the crippling effects of the pandemic on America’s supply chains in 2021, further efforts began in our Committee to examine how we can better map and monitor supply chains to ensure resiliency in the future.  "What started as a positive bipartisan process unfortunately went down a different path. To be clear, I don’t blame my Democratic colleagues on this Committee, as I know this was a top-down decision dictated by Speaker Pelosi. Instead of consensus legislating, the process led to multibillion-dollar spending programs that skipped regular order, which ironically the now minority party insists we preserve.  "The conclusion to that effort was failure, as even the Senate was unable to agree with the enormous price tag and government interventions into the private sector.  "I say this not to re-litigate the past but more to help us get a fresh start."  SOLUTIONS   "Today we have legislation from Dr. Bucshon that takes us back to our earlier consensus, identifying the special role that emerging technologies will have in our future economy. It is best to promote and deploy these technologies now with our values driving the process, rather than to spend billions to figure out how to reclaim them later if they are deployed and developed with an adversary’s values.  "I believe both sides of the aisle can appreciate this legislation on the docket in draft form to continue a dialogue that results in a bipartisan consensus.  "We have all been legislating long enough to know that America cannot simply throw taxpayer dollars at an issue to rectify concerns.  "The multibillion-dollar semiconductor program enacted last Congress has been hamstrung by issues we flagged during its consideration for not considering regulatory burdens like permitting.  BEATING CHINA  "The way we retain and grow our leadership is not to outspend China, but instead provide a stable regulatory framework that rewards innovators and entrepreneurs with results.  "To secure our future, we need to address problems our nation faces at the root cause.   That means mapping and monitoring supply chains and understanding why we are so reliant on adversaries like China for many critical minerals and components, essential for products our constituents use. We should understand how we can source in America or with allied nations.  "It means promoting the deployment of emerging technologies like blockchains to have greater transparency into a chain of custody, or autonomous vehicles to help deliver goods where we see voids.  "It means removing barriers that small businesses and startups face in their effort to enter markets and developing a plan to promote their growth and their workforce.  And specifically on that note, I also want to thank Representatives Bill Johnson and Dean Phillips for their continued leadership on H.R. 5398, the Advancing Tech Startups Act, and to Representatives Miller-Meeks, Bucshon, Johnson, Kuster, Schrier, and Spanberger for H.R. 5390, the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act.  "I look forward to the discussion today and welcome any constructive and specific language we can review to get these bills passed and ultimately succeed in getting them to the Presidents’ desk.  "Thank you to our panelists for your testimony today, and I yield back." 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers delivered the following opening remarks at today’s  Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee legislative hearing  titled " Mapping America’s Supply Chains: Solutions to Unleash Innovation, Boost Economic Resilience, and Beat China. "  AMERICAN LEADERSHIP DEPENDS ON INNOVATION  "America’s economic leadership to beat China depends on our ability to innovate and maintain strong, reliable supply chains.   "The COVID-19 pandemic exposed how fragile our supply chains are.    "Hospitals were short on ventilators and personal protective equipment. People were unable to find basic necessities, like food, medicine, baby formula, and hand sanitizer.   "And manufacturers experienced shortages of critical semiconductor chips, which help power our cars and home appliances.   "We learned how easy it is to become over reliant on adversaries like China.   "We cannot make the same mistake when it comes to our supply chains for emerging technologies. Our national and economic security depends on American technological leadership."  SECURING AMERICAN TECH LEADERSHIP   "As last week’s Senate summit on artificial intelligence made clear, A.I. has become a top priority for lawmakers.   "A recent Commerce Department report—which was required by legislation from this Committee—stressed that, in order to lead in A.I. and other technologies, the U.S. needs a national data privacy and security framework.   "I agree that this is key, not just for A.I., but for American tech leadership more broadly, which is why we’ve been working on legislation to protect people’s information online and prevent China from surveilling and manipulating Americans.   "In order to make sure these technologies are developed here in the U.S., we also need to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship.   "That’s the American way.   "We'll never out-subsidize China, nor should we even attempt to. Trying to do so will waste taxpayer dollars, hurt small businesses and startups, and cede our leadership and technology future to the Chinese Communist Party.   "To grow the economy, boost American jobs, and ensure the U.S.—not China—is developing these technologies of the future.   "We need solutions that unleash innovation and spur investment in these key technologies."  COMPETE 2.0   "The bills we’re discussing today will help achieve this goal.   "Three years ago, Committee Republicans authored legislative proposals to secure American leadership in emerging technologies critical to our long-term global competitiveness, like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the ‘Internet of Things.’   "Several of these proposals became the bipartisan American COMPETE Act of 2020."  STRONG SUPPLY CHAINS ENSURE SAFETY  "If we fail to adequately secure our supply chains, the technologies we rely on every day will be vulnerable to malicious actors and adversaries like China who want to use these technologies to exploit and surveil Americans and their families.    "That includes our homes, cars, phones. Nearly every moment of every day could be accessible by China or other bad actors.   "A regime like the CCP, which suppresses free speech, surveils its own citizens to control them, and commits countless human rights abuses, should not control our tech future.   "We saw this when China-based Huawei infiltrated our communications networks.   "And we’re seeing how interested China is in testing their self-drive technologies on American roads.   "We must ensure the technologies of tomorrow are developed in an ecosystem that promotes America’s values and protects American data and our privacy.   "I look forward to today’s discussion and would like to yield the balance of my time to Dr. Bucshon to discuss his legislation on supply chain mapping and resiliency.” 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) today announced a hearing titled “Mapping America’s Supply Chains: Solutions to Unleash Innovation, Boost Economic Resilience, and Beat China.” The members released the following statement:   “America’s economic leadership depends on innovative solutions and strong, reliable supply chains. This is especially true for securing our long-term global competitiveness in retaining manufacturing, spurring startups, and applying emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and ‘Internet of Things.’ We look forward to discussing solutions to ensure the U.S. wins the future, continues to grow the economy, and beats China.”  Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce legislative hearing titled “Mapping America’s Supply Chains: Solutions to Unleash Innovation, Boost Economic Resilience, and Beat China.”  WHAT: Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee legislative hearing on solutions to secure America's supply chains. DATE: Wednesday, September 20, 2023 TIME: 10:30 AM ET LOCATION: 2322 Rayburn House Office Building The following draft legislation will be discussed: H.R. ___, To establish a supply chain resiliency and crisis response program in the Department of Commerce, and for other purposes (Rep. Larry Bucshon) H.R. 5390, the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act (Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks) H.R. 5398, the Advancing Tech Startups Act (Rep. Bill Johnson) H.R. 5146, the Advancing Gig Economy Act (Rep. John Joyce) This notice is at the direction the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will belive streamed online at www.energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Jessica Herron at Jessica.Herron@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Sean Kelly at Sean.Kelly@mail.house.gov.

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Full Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) wrote to Meta and other online marketplaces today requesting information regarding efforts to end the sale of banned and recalled hazardous products on their platforms. KEY EXCERPTS FROM THE LETTER TO META: “The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is tasked with keeping the public safe from consumer products that pose an unreasonable risk of injury or death. In addition to its own work, the CPSC relies on online marketplaces, like Meta, to keep consumers safe by preventing the posting for sale of products that are known to be dangerous. It is our understanding that Meta has been falling short on this mission.” […] “Meta’s failure to prevent recalled products from being posted for sale on its platform has resulted in your users and their children being placed at risk of purchasing and using a product that CPSC has found to pose a serious risk of injury and potential death.” BACKGROUND: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) relies on online marketplaces to keep people safe by proactively preventing the sale of products that are known to be dangerous.  Recent reports suggest that at least one platform, Meta, has fallen short of that responsibility, despite numerous takedown requests from CPSC. CPSC has issued takedown requests to various platforms, including several takedown requests for recalled products related to infant deaths. CPSC has formally issued an approximately one thousand take down requests a month for these products. To date, the volume of takedown requests has not slowed, and CPSC staff is unaware of any proactive measures by the platform in question  to prevent these postings in the future. This lapse has resulted in thousands of users and their children being put at risk of using a product that has been found to pose serious risk of injury and potential death. The Chairs and Ranking members asked companies to provide answers to the following questions by August 31, 2023: What systems do you have in place to ensure recalled products that the CPSC has determined pose a serious risk of injury and potential death are not able to be posted to your marketplace? Do you have a compliance staff dedicated to consumer product safety issues? If so, how many full and or part time staff are on that team? What actions do you take to monitor CPSC recalls? What actions will you take to ensure that the Fisher Price Rock ‘n Play, Boppy Newborn Lounger, and similarly designed and/or other recalled products are not available on your platform moving forward? Are there statutory issues that are creating a gray area where it is unclear what the platform’s responsibilities are? Will you commit to working with the Committee to find a solution to this, to ensure that CPSC’s resources are not wasted on sending thousands of takedown requests for products that pose a known hazard and are for sale on your marketplace? CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Meta. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Amazon. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Walmart. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Target. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Bikelist. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Ebay. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Etsy. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Goldin. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Kidizen. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Mercari. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to OfferUp. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Poshmark. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Reverb. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to TikTok. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Pinduoduo. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Alibaba. CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Shein.

Reports Were Ordered by E&C Legislation on American Competitiveness in Emerging Technologies Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released the following statement on the completion of several strategic reports compiled by the Department of Commerce regarding the state of American leadership in key emerging technology sectors. “Over three years ago, Committee Republicans authored legislative proposals to secure American leadership in emerging technologies critical to our long-term global competitiveness, like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the ‘Internet of Things.’ Those bills became the bipartisan American COMPETE Act of 2020, which required the Department of Commerce to evaluate America’s competitiveness in emerging technologies. “Ultimately, the best way to ensure the U.S. dominates in these vital technologies is by embracing innovation and entrepreneurship. That’s the American way. We'll never outspend China and trying to do so will only cede our leadership and technology future to the Chinese Communist Party. We will review these long-awaited reports and hope they will help us continue our efforts to strengthen American technological leadership and beat China.” NOTE: The American Competitiveness of a More Productive Emerging Tech Economy Act, or the American COMPETE Act, passed the House in 2020 and was included as part of H.R. 133, the Consolidation Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law No. 116-260).

Washington, D.C. —  House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered opening remarks at today’s Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee hearing titled “ Self-Driving Vehicle Legislative Framework: Enhancing Safety, Improving Lives and Mobility, and Beating China .” Excerpts and highlights below: THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM LIVES “As many of you know, self-driving cars have the potential to transform lives. “I think about our oldest son, Cole, who has Down syndrome. “He recently turned 16, and like his friends, he’s dreaming of getting his driver’s license. “For Cole and others living with a disability, it’s exciting to imagine the amazing mobility options that self-driving cars will provide. “Self-driving vehicles have the potential to break down transportation barriers, unleash more opportunities, more freedom, and more independence. “It will mean a safe, reliable way to get to work, go to the doctor, get an education, and so much more. “They also have the potential to reduce death and injury on our roads, most of which result from human error and impaired driving, help ensure our transportation future isn’t reliant on supply chains from our adversaries, and prevent China from controlling the AI and machine learning technologies and insights gained from this technology.” BEATING CHINA “The U.S. is currently at risk of ceding leadership to China. “China is currently moving ahead with ambitious plans to lead the development and deployment of this technology. “We cannot trust the Chinese Communist Party to set the standards for this industry and we certainly cannot trust them to protect our data and individual rights. “Those standards and regulatory framework must be led by the U.S. “Last Congress, Committee Republicans wrote to Secretary Buttigieg raising concerns about U.S. approval for Huawei to buy our semiconductor technology for its growing auto business. “Sadly, two years have gone by and no response from the administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declined our request to testify here today despite weeks of notice. “China’s ambitions in this industry present a critical economic and national security threat to our country, especially when China is testing their self-drive technology on American roads and technology that includes video cameras on every car it produces. “I’d like to I thank Mr. Walberg for the language he contributed as part of our discussion draft today that reins in Chinese companies testing on our roads. “The importance of this technology cannot be overstated. “The journey alone to deploying self-driving vehicles is going to deliver so many benefits, some we haven’t even thought of. “America must lead, not China. “Over the last century, the U.S. has led the way in the automotive sector. “We must ensure that we continue to lead for the next one hundred years, and fostering a robust self-driving vehicle industry is critical for achieving that goal. “I look forward to the testimony from our witnesses today.”

Washington, D.C. — Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) delivered opening remarks at today’s Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee legislative hearing titled “ Self-Driving Vehicle Legislative Framework: Enhancing Safety, Improving Lives and Mobility, and Beating China .” Excerpts and highlights below: SECURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES “Good morning, everyone and welcome to today’s legislative hearing on self-driving vehicles, also known as autonomous vehicles, or AVs. “The work we do in this subcommittee is foundational to American’s economic future and national security. “It is essential we secure our country’s leadership in emerging technologies to transform Americans lives. “When this subcommittee began working on AVs under Republican leadership, over 6 years ago, I don’t believe anyone thought we would be back to square one today in 2023, re-examining similar legislation that had previously passed the House unanimously, and that many members of this Committee on both sides cosponsored. “It is sad and unfortunate that we haven’t been able to do anything in this space given all we can benefit from this technology, and we know our adversaries aren’t waiting. “This hearing serves as an opportunity to level set and discuss why it’s dire for us to move legislation forward and not give in to ancillary demands from those who wish to keep the U.S. in the 20th century. “By NHTSA’s 2022 estimates, 42,795 Americans lost their lives in crashes, and for the first three months of this year approximately 9,330 lives were lost. “This technology can help roll back these sad fatality statistics, solving the issues of human limitation, impairments, and inattentiveness. It’s clear the status quo is unacceptable.” RACING AGAINST CHINA “We are also in a race against the clock with China. “While the United States has failed to advance a national framework that expands testing and deployment, China has unveiled a national strategy to boost testing and deployment throughout their country. “Any more inaction from Congress will result in the Chinese defining and owning the technology and its supply chain. “Enacting a national regulatory framework without top-down taxpayer subsidies is the true path to securing the future of our AV economy. “I was pleased that the first hearing of this year focused our competitiveness with China, which Jeff Farrah from the newly formed Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) testified on the need to get this done this year. “As he laid the case out clearly, America must not lose our edge and cede this life-saving and transformational technology to those who don’t hold our values.” EMPOWERING AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES “It’s also important to think about who this technology will benefit. Many of us take for granted our ability to drive a car, either to our jobs, to visit friends or family, or run errands. But millions of Americans don’t have that luxury. “In fact, today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. “Just as that law made sure to protect people living with disabilities from discrimination, we can draw parallels to the bills we’re discussing today. “I want to thank Mr. Latta for including language I championed in his discussion draft to ensure people living with disabilities cannot be discriminated against from receiving a license to access this technology and for ensuring that manufactures keep in mind how to design their vehicles so that all people can use them regardless of their disability. “Studies have shown how impactful AVs will be for transportation and mobility, especially for people living with disabilities, and we should certainly not be dictating who can and cannot access them. “Mr. Riccobono, thank you for testifying today and sharing how much this will transform the lives of people living with disabilities. “AVs hold so much promise for everyone in this country, so let’s make sure this promise ends up a reality for everyone, and not just a proportion of the U.S. population. “I want to thank Mr. Latta for his tireless work to make America the home of manufacturing the vehicles of the future, and for Mr. Walberg’s efforts to ensure that Chinese auto companies don’t take advantage of our openness just as their Tech companies have. “Thank you to the panel for your testimony.”

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) today announced a subcommittee legislative hearing titled “Self-Driving Vehicle Legislative Framework: Enhancing Safety, Improving Lives and Mobility, and Beating China.”  Rodgers and Bilirakis released the following statement:  “American leadership in self-driving vehicles is vital to winning the future. Self-driving cars have the potential to transform people’s lives—from reducing traffic deaths and enhancing the mobility of senior citizens and people living with disabilities, to securing thousands of American jobs driven by American-led technology and innovation.   “Inaction over the past two Congresses has put America at risk of ceding leadership in this industry to China. In order to ensure Americans can reap the benefits of self-driving vehicles, we must enact a comprehensive national law that establishes a pathway to safe deployment. We want to thank Representative Latta for his continued leadership on this issue. We look forward to hearing from industry experts, advocacy groups, and manufacturers about ways we can improve people’s lives, spur American innovation, and strengthen America’s technological competitive edge.”   Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce legislative hearing titled “Self-Driving Vehicle Legislative Framework: Enhancing Safety, Improving Lives and Mobility, and Beating China.”   WHAT: Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee legislative hearing on solutions to secure American leadership in self-driving vehicle technology.  DATE: Wednesday, July 26, 2023   TIME: 10:30 AM ET  LOCATION: 2322 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Jessica Herron at Jessica.Herron@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Sean Kelly at Sean.Kelly@mail.house.gov .   The following draft legislation will be discussed:  H.R. __ , The Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution Act or the SELF DRIVE Act ( Rep. Bob Latta ) H.R.__ , To amend title 49, U.S. Code, to provide for updated and new motor vehicle safety standards and regulations for highly automated vehicles and partially automated vehicles, and for other purposes.  ( Rep. Debbie Dingell )