RADIO SPECTRUM INVENTORY ACT

Floor Speech

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Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak on the bill.

As the chairman of the Congressional Electronic Warfare Working Group, I believe that the electromagnetic spectrum is critically important to our current and future military operations and national security. And I'm pleased to see that the committee has taken into consideration some concerns raised by the administration and the electronic warfare community regarding this bill. However, the electromagnetic spectrum is a dynamic and ever-changing environment, and we must ensure that our Armed Forces can manage the utilization of the spectrum and provide long-term strategic planning and program development.

While I understand the importance of the potential economic value of the spectrum inventory, it is vital that this bill take into account the criticality of the electromagnetic spectrum to military training and operations and the importance of the U.S. military controlling the spectrum in conflict.

I will support this bill today, but we must be very vigilant as the inventory is taken. If mistakes are made, serious negative consequences will ensue, consequences that could harm the warfighter and his ability to use the spectrum in training and war.

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