Telling The Truth

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, this morning we pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States. What a privilege and an honor. I think it conveys upon this body to tell the truth.

And so this morning I raise a question of my friend's comments about holding the troops hostage. We're not holding them hostage. We were able to provide them with their paychecks, but we wanted to be concerned about their grandmothers and wives and children that were being abandoned by the Republican budget.

And, yes, can you imagine holding up the paying of the bills of the United States because you're against women's health care and family planning and you want to condemn and take away resources to family planning and to Planned Parenthood?

Can you imagine reciting the pledge to the flag and yet not telling the truth? Telling the truth about the fact that we had a provision that would allow our troops to be paid. But in actuality what we're standing against is eliminating of early childhood education, nutrition programs, housing programs, teacher compensation.

Yes, there has to be a moral standard for the budget. We're standing on high moral ground. You can pay our troops and you can have family planning.

Let's do the right thing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.J. Res. 37 which disapproves the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with respect to regulating the Internet and broadband industry practices.

As a Senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet we have held hearings to examine the importance of so-called ``Net Neutrality''; the principal that everyone should have equal access to the Internet and its lawful content. It gives me great pause whenever I see legislation that frankly looks like an attempt to restrict access to information and limit the right to free speech guaranteed by the 1st amendment of the Constitution. In practical terms, this bill affects the rights of the people to provide and receive information in the form of Internet content as regulated by the FCC.

Make no mistake, access to information contained on the Internet and through broadband connectivity provides vital resources for individuals, families and businesses in the 18th congressional district of Texas, in remote and underserved locations, and all across this great nation every day. Through an open Internet, families, large businesses, small businesses, minority and women owned businesses can access the critical personal, health, medical, news, public safety, educational, financial and business information they need to lead more productive lives and contribute to the continued growth of our national economy. We cannot stifle the innovation that emanates from Internet based activity and drives greater equality in participating in our nation's economic growth!

Census information indicates that small businesses and minority owned businesses are some of the most significant contributors to job growth in America. Minority-owned and small businesses heavily depend on access to information on the Internet as a cost effective means of allowing them to compete. These minority-owned businesses and small businesses would be particularly hard hit and devastated by prohibiting the free flow of information and certain applications over their networks. We cannot allow this to happen; we must oppose this bill.

Open access to the Internet and its content has become an important part of our everyday lives. I must express reservations about efforts to enact legislation that seeks to limit open access to the informational content on the Internet. This legislation seeks to divest the FCC of its power to regulate the Internet and broadband to ensure equal access for all Americans. While there is so much talk in this Chamber about shutting down the federal government for reasons that have nothing to do with fiscally responsibility, what we should be doing is shutting down attempts like these to limit our access to information. So as for this bill is concerned, ``Shut it down!''

This bill would disapprove the rule adopted by the FCC on December 21, 2010, that is intended to preserve the Internet as an open network. Report and Order FCC 10-201 establishes rules that would bar broadband providers from blocking lawful content and discriminating in transmitting lawful traffic on the network. The rule also would require broadband providers to disclose to the public information about network management practices, performance, and terms of service. H.J. Res. 37 would invoke a legislative process established by the Congressional Review Act ``CRA'' (Public Law 104-121) to disapprove the open Internet rule. If H.J. Res. 37 is enacted, the published rule would have no force or effect. This is unacceptable in an open, democratic society with freedom of expression!

The Obama administration strongly opposes House passage of H.J. Res. 37, which would undermine a fundamental part of the Nation's Internet and innovation strategy--an enforceable and effective policy for keeping the Internet free and open. Since the development of the Internet, Federal policy has ensured that this medium is kept open and facilitates innovation and investment, protects consumer choice, and enables free speech. The rule at issue resulted from a process that brought together parties on all sides of this issue--from consumer groups to technology companies to broadband providers--to enable their voices to be heard.

Notably, the Federal Communications Commission's rule reflected a constructive effort to build a consensus around what safeguards and protections were reasonable and necessary to ensure that the Internet continues to attract investment and to spur innovation. Disapproval of the rule would threaten those values and raise questions as to whether innovation on the Internet will be allowed to flourish, consumers will be protected from abuses, and the democratic spirit of the Internet will remain intact.

If the President is presented with a Resolution of Disapproval that would not safeguard the free and open Internet, his senior advisers would recommend that he veto the resolution.

In short, H.J. Res. 37 is impermissibly harmful:

This Bill uses A Rigid ``Congressional Review Act'' Disapproval Process to Address FCC Open Internet Rule.

By Overturning FCC Open Internet Rule, Republicans Undermine Job Creation and Stifle Innovation.

By Overturning FCC Open Internet Rule, Republicans Hurt Small Business (20,000 small businesses operate on the Internet and over 600,000 Americans have part- or full-time businesses on eBay alone. Small businesses were responsible for nearly 65 percent of new jobs over the last 15 years).

Bringing Up a CRA Disapproval Resolution Imposes a Straitjacket on Congress, Preventing Amendments.

This Straitjacket CRA Disapproval Resolution, Which Prevents Amendments, Overturns Even Consensus Provisions of the FCC Open Internet Rule.

Therefore, I urge my colleagues to join me and the cross-section of the great many voices of forward thinking people and organizations all across America, and oppose H.J. Res. 37.

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