Twelve Pieces of Legislation

Commerce, Space, and Science NominationsHouse Energy and Commerce · 2025-03-04 · 119th Congress
The House Energy and Commerce Committee held its first legislative markup of the 119th Congress to consider twelve bipartisan bills, most of which had previously passed the House in the prior Congress. Begins at 0:08:33
Transcript
Highlights

Title

Committee marks up twelve bipartisan telecom, cyber, and safety bills

Purpose

The House Energy and Commerce Committee held its first legislative markup of the 119th Congress to consider twelve bipartisan bills, most of which had previously passed the House in the prior Congress. The bills covered wireless and satellite policy, cybersecurity of federal telecommunications agencies and mobile networks, foreign investment and supply chain resilience, and consumer product safety, including a new mandatory safety standard for retractable awnings. Begins at0:08:33

Who spoke

Chairman (presiding, unnamed in transcript)0:08:33: Opened the markup by noting the committee's bipartisan history and previewed bills on precision agriculture wireless service, cybersecurity, supply chain resilience (citing the Global Investment in American Jobs Act)0:09:34, and the Awning Safety Act, named for Dr. Michael Natat0:10:04; presided over each bill's consideration and vote throughout the hearing.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Ranking Member0:11:05: Said the committee was marking up twelve bills that previously passed the House with bipartisan support0:11:05; highlighted the Awning Safety Act, noting Dr. Michael Gat died from a retractable awning accident and that no current safety standard exists0:11:35.

Member from Ohio (bill sponsor, HR 1618)0:12:36: Introduced the Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act, noting it passed the House 409-1 (heard as "49 to 1") in the 118th Congress0:13:06; said satellite technology can aid farmers directly or via backhaul to wireless towers0:14:07.

Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL)0:15:38: Offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR 1618 to correct a sunsetting task force provision0:15:38; explained the amendment makes technical clarifications to reflect the FCC advisory committee's current status0:16:09.

Member from Georgia (bill sponsor, HR 1455)0:18:39: Introduced the ITS Codification Act, arguing the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences is essential for spectrum-reallocation testing needed to compete with China0:19:10; thanked Rep. Peterson for support0:20:10.

Member from California (bill sponsor, HR 1766)0:21:11: Introduced the NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act, establishing an Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity within NTIA0:21:41; noted the bill builds on work led by then-Rep. now-Senator John Curtis0:22:12.

Member from Virginia (Democrat)0:22:43: Voiced support for HR 1766, citing the Salt Typhoon cyberattack as evidence of evolving threats to telecom infrastructure and connected devices0:23:43.

Member from New Jersey (bill sponsor, HR 1765)0:25:44: Introduced the Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act with Reps. Dingell, Walberg, and Clark, aimed at boosting U.S. participation in international 5G standard-setting bodies0:25:44.

Rep. from Michigan (co-sponsor, HR 1765)0:26:45: Said the bill positions the U.S. to lead in setting international standards for 5G, 6G, and future technologies against Chinese competition0:27:15; noted her role as co-chair of the 5G and Beyond Caucus0:28:16.

Member from Idaho (bill sponsor, HR 1737)0:29:47: Introduced the Diaspora Linkage Act, directing NTIA to study a transatlantic undersea fiber cable from the U.S. Virgin Islands to Africa0:29:47; said undersea cables carry more than 95% of U.S. international data0:30:17.

Member from Florida (bill sponsor, HR 1709)0:31:49: Introduced the Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act, directing NTIA to assess mobile network cybersecurity vulnerabilities0:31:49; cited threats from China and Russia0:32:49.

Member from Ohio (co-sponsor, HR 1709)0:32:49: Called the bill simple but impactful, saying it would produce an interagency report on vulnerabilities and how adversaries access data0:33:19.

Member from Colorado (bill sponsor, HR 1679)0:34:51: Introduced the Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2025, citing 126,000 Colorado jobs tied to foreign investment, 31% in manufacturing0:35:21; noted international employers account for over $80 billion in U.S. R&D0:36:52.

Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL)0:37:52: Co-led HR 1679 with Rep. Evans, calling for an interagency review to boost U.S. global competitiveness for foreign direct investment0:38:22.

Member from Florida (bill sponsor, HR 1770)0:39:23: Introduced a bill establishing an AI pilot program at the Consumer Product Safety Commission and advancing blockchain use at the FTC0:39:53.

Member from Iowa (co-sponsor, HR 1721)0:40:55: Introduced the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act with Rep. Sherrill, directing a Commerce Department study on domestic manufacturing feasibility0:41:25.

Member from Washington (co-sponsor, HR 1721)0:41:55: Cited U.S. dependence on China for masks and other countries for transformers as motivating the study0:42:25.

Member from Ohio (co-sponsor, HR 1767, Awning Safety Act)0:43:55: Said Michael Natat, father of former committee staffer Olivia Shields, died in August 2023 when a spring-loaded awning arm caused him to fall from a ladder0:43:55.

Member from Florida (co-sponsor, HR 1767)0:44:56: Noted a 2019 recall of a motorized awning after 14 accidents including one fatality0:45:57; said the bill passed the committee unanimously last Congress0:46:27; welcomed former Rep. Dennis Ross and Southeastern University students to the hearing0:44:56.

Key moments

Rep. Pallone recounted that Dr. Michael Gat, father of a former Energy and Commerce staffer, died from a retractable awning accident, prompting the Awning Safety Act0:11:35.

HR 1618 (Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act) was reported as having passed the House 409-1 in the 118th Congress0:13:06.

Rep. Kelly's amendment to HR 1618 corrected a provision sunsetting an FCC task force that had been written for the prior Congress0:15:38; the amendment and underlying bill were both agreed to by voice vote0:17:390:18:09.

The Diaspora Linkage Act sponsor stated undersea cables carry more than 95% of U.S. international data and cited Africa Command's interest in U.S.-Africa communications links for counterterrorism0:30:170:30:17.

Rep. from Colorado said foreign direct investment supports over 126,000 jobs in Colorado, 31% in manufacturing, and more than $80 billion in U.S. R&D nationally0:35:210:36:52.

HR 1770 sponsor argued the CPSC needs an AI pilot program because "the crooks already have artificial intelligence," so "the cops on the beat need to have AI too"0:39:53.

The bill's Washington co-sponsor cited U.S. dependence on China for masks and other countries for transformers as evidence of supply-chain vulnerability motivating HR 17210:42:25.

The Florida co-sponsor of the Awning Safety Act detailed that Michael Natat's daughter, Olivia Shields, previously worked as the committee's communications director, and that a 2019 motorized-awning recall followed 14 accidents including one death0:44:560:45:57.

All twelve bills considered were agreed to by voice vote with no recorded opposition [e.g., 0:18:09, 0:20:41, 0:47:27].

The chair closed by noting the markup covered bills that had all previously passed the House except for votes by newly sworn-in freshman members, and thanked committee staff for bipartisan preparation0:47:27.

Metadata

CommitteeHouse Energy and Commerce
Chamber / CongressHouse · 119th Congress
Date2025-03-04
TypeMarkup
Witnesses
(none listed in event metadata)
Videoyoutube
Transcript80 caption blocks · 6,591 words · 0:48:29 runtime
EventCongress.gov 117990