Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2583, the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2015, a bipartisan bill aimed at giving the FCC flexibility while promoting openness, transparency and accountability.

In the 113th Congress, the House of Representatives considered and passed similar legislation by voice vote. The bill before us adds to the previously included reforms by including three legislative proposals offered during the Energy & Commerce Committee's debate.

First, a proposal offered by Rep. Clarke would require the FCC to report quarterly to Congress and to post, on its website, data on the total number of decisions pending, categorized by bureau, the type of request, the length of time pending, as well as a list of pending Congressional investigations and their costs to the agency.

Second, a proposal by Rep. Loebsack would require the Chairman to post the Commission's internal procedures on the FCC website and update the website when the Chairman makes any changes.

Third, the underlying bill includes a proposal offered by Rep. Matsui which would require the FCC to coordinate with the Small Business Administration and issue recommendations to improve small business participation in FCC proceedings.

Collectively the proposals by Reps. Clarke, Loebsack and Matsui would modernize and enhance transparency at the FCC without jeopardizing regulatory certainty or opening the Commission to legal challenges on every agency action.

I'm also pleased that the bill incorporates the FCC Collaboration Act of 2015, a bipartisan bill I introduced earlier this year with Reps. Shimkus and Doyle. For years, current and former FCC Commissioners have called on Congress to pass `sunshine reform,' so that three or more Commissioners can hold non-public collaborative discussions, as long as no agency action is taken. While I remain disappointed that this provision will not take effect immediately upon enactment, I've concluded that any further delay in implementation is the unnecessary delay of a much needed reform.

I thank Chairman Walden for working with me and my staff to put forward a bipartisan bill and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2583.

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