Letter Archives - Energy and Commerce Committee

Rodgers and Latta Call for an FCC Oversight Hearing to Assess the FCC’s Program Implementation Plans and Commitment to Free Speech

05.25.2021

Washington, D.C. — Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Republican Leader Bob Latta (R-OH) urge Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) to schedule an oversight hearing to review the Federal Communication Commission’s implementation plans regarding key connectivity programs and their commitment to free speech.

Excerpts and highlights from the letter:

“As you are aware, the FCC is responsible for implementing the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program and the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), and the Broadband DATA Act (P.L. 116-130) to produce accurate broadband...

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Rodgers and Bilirakis Urge Attorney General Garland for Input on the FTC’s Section 13b Authority

05.17.2021

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Consumer Protection and Commerce Republican Leader Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) urged Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice to address constitutional issues raised in proposed legislation on the Federal Trade Commission’s Section 13b authority. These questions follow an April 27 legislative hearing where only the acting chair of the FTC—and no other commissioners—was allowed to testify and no Republican bills were allowed to be considered, breaking with tradition and calling into question the FTC decision-making process.

Excerpts and highlights from the letter:

"We request that the Department of Justice (DOJ) provide information concerning H.R. 2668, the “Consumer Protection and Recovery Act,” now...

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Bipartisan E&C Leaders Write to Appropriators Requesting Funding for the USA Telecommunications Act

05.07.2021

Washington, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Full Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) wrote to their colleagues on the Appropriations Committee yesterday requesting at least $750 million in Fiscal Year 2022 funding for critical network security initiatives authorized under the USA Telecommunications Act.

The USA Telecommunications Act of 2020, established the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The program supports the promotion and deployment of Open...

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E&C Republican Leaders Send Letter to CDC Director Requesting Information on Role Teachers Unions Played in Keeping Schools Closed

05.05.2021

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Subcommittee on Health Republican Leader Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Republican Leader Morgan Griffith (R-VA) sent a letter Wednesday to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle P. Walensky asking about the CDC’s recently revealed emails showing a “partnership” with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and involvement from the National Education Association (NEA).

Although Dr. Walensky promised to “lead with ‘facts, science, and...

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Rodgers and Pallone Urge Ambassador Tai not to Include Section 230 in Trade Agreements

05.03.2021

Washington, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) sent a letter today to United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai regarding the inclusion of language mirroring Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act in trade agreements.

Excerpts from the letter:

“As you may know, the effects of Section 230 and the appropriate role of such a liability shield have become the subject of much debate in recent years. While we take no view on...

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E&C Republicans Request Information on Administration’s Handling of the Border Crisis

04.22.2021

Washington, D.C.—Today, House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans, led by Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers, sent a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris requesting information on the current situation at the southern border, including information about the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) operations related to the management, care, and treatment of unaccompanied children (UC). Specifically, Republicans asked for details on how the administration is handling the influx of migrants, particularly UC, as well as the following:

ORR...

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Bipartisan Group of E&C Leaders Urge NTIA to Continue Leadership in the Management of Federal Spectrum

04.19.2021

Washington, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Republican leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Full Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Republican Leader Bob Latta (R-OH), and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) wrote to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today urging the agency to fulfill its statutory role of managing federal spectrum use.

“By statute, the NTIA has ‘the responsibility to ensure that the views of the executive branch on telecommunications matters are effectively presented to...

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E&C Republicans Caution Rosenworcel on Rolling Back Internet Service Protections for Americans

04.16.2021

Washington, D.C. — Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans, led by Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Republican Leader Bob Latta, sent a letter today urging Acting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Rosenworcel not to impose stringent net neutrality regulations, which could result in Americans losing their internet offerings.

Excerpts from the letter to Acting FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of being able to access the Internet anywhere, anytime. The Internet...

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