[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 51 (Friday, April 8, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H2551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TELLING THE TRUTH

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. 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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