[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 137 (Monday, September 12, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5298-H5300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE ABOUT A NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE 
                           INTERNET OF THINGS

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 847) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives about a national strategy for the Internet of Things to 
promote economic growth and consumer empowerment.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 847

       Whereas the Internet of Things currently connects tens of 
     billions of devices worldwide and has the potential to 
     generate trillions of dollars in economic opportunity;
       Whereas increased connectivity can empower consumers in 
     nearly every aspect of their daily lives, including in the 
     fields of agriculture, education, energy, healthcare, public 
     safety, security, and transportation, to name just a few;
       Whereas businesses across the economy can simplify 
     logistics, cut costs in supply chains, and pass savings on to 
     consumers because of the Internet of Things and innovations 
     derived from it;
       Whereas the Internet of Things, through augmented data 
     collection and process analyses, optimizes energy consumption 
     by increasing energy efficiency and reducing usage and 
     demand;
       Whereas the United States should strive to be a world 
     leader in smart cities and smart infrastructure to ensure its 
     citizens and businesses, in both rural and urban parts of the 
     country, have access to the safest and most resilient 
     communities in the world;
       Whereas the United States is the world leader in developing 
     the Internet of Things technology, and with a national 
     strategy guiding both public and private entities, the United 
     States will continue to produce breakthrough technologies and 
     lead the world in innovation;
       Whereas the evolution of the Internet of Things is a 
     nascent market, the future direction of which holds much 
     promise;
       Whereas businesses should implement reasonable privacy and 
     cybersecurity practices and protect consumers' personal 
     information to increase confidence, trust, and acceptance of 
     this emerging market;
       Whereas the Internet of Things represents a wide range of 
     technologies, in numerous industry sectors and overseen by 
     various governmental entities; and
       Whereas coordination between all stakeholders of the 
     Internet of Things on relevant developments, impediments, and 
     achievements is a vital ingredient to the continued 
     advancement of pioneering technology: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) the United States should develop a national strategy to 
     encourage the development of the Internet of Things in a way 
     that maximizes the promise connected technologies hold to 
     empower consumers, foster future economic growth, and improve 
     the Nation's collective social well-being;
       (2) the United States should prioritize accelerating the 
     development and deployment of the Internet of Things in a way 
     that recognizes its benefits, allows for future innovation, 
     and responsibly protects against misuse;
       (3) the United States should recognize the important role 
     that businesses play in the future development of the 
     Internet of Things and engage in inclusive dialogue with 
     industry and work cooperatively wherever possible;
       (4) the United States Government should determine if using 
     the Internet of Things can improve Government efficiency and 
     effectiveness and cut waste, fraud, and abuse; and
       (5) using the Internet of Things, innovators in the United 
     States should commit to improving the quality of life for 
     future generations by developing safe, new technologies aimed 
     at tackling the most challenging societal issues facing the 
     world.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Burgess) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous materials into the Record on the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 847, the Internet of 
things, kind of a novel concept. The Internet of things represents a 
significant opportunity for economic growth and for innovation. It 
represents an opportunity for job creation across virtually every 
industry and every sector in the United States. The integration of the 
Internet and networked sensors into physical objects and things creates 
opportunities for new conveniences, creates opportunities for increased 
productivity, and substantial efficiency gains throughout our economy. 
According to McKinsey & Company, the Internet of things has a potential 
economic impact of $4 trillion to $11 trillion by the year 2025.

                              {time}  1730

  As the technology develops and matures, Internet connectivity is 
capturing more than just objects and traditional household items such 
as refrigerators, thermostats, and televisions. Today, Internet 
connectivity is being integrated into industrial processes, 
transportation routes, workforce practices, supply chain logistics, 
city operations, and much more. These advancements have been 
particularly beneficial to the manufacturing sector, where they are 
enabling greater workplace productivity, factory floor efficiency, and 
enhanced employee safety.
  As a physician who has served people in north Texas for over 25 years 
before I came to Congress, I see great potential for the Internet of 
things, particularly in the healthcare space. Internet-connected 
devices, machines, and applications are creating opportunities for 
better quality and more efficient care. In addition to providing these 
benefits, connected healthcare devices help reduce healthcare costs and 
other health-related expenses that have long been a drag on our economy 
and on consumers' wallets.
  In recognizing the potential for the Internet of things, H. Res. 847 
establishes our commitment to realizing that potential through 
strategic investments that ensure that the Internet of things becomes 
the engine for job creation, innovation, and economic growth that it 
promises to be.
  Through a national strategy, stakeholders can engage in a more 
collaborative discussion and resources can be used more effectively, 
more efficiently to foster the future development of the Internet of 
things market.
  Importantly, a national strategy will foster more consumer 
confidence, more

[[Page H5299]]

consumer trust, and more consumer acceptance in the Internet of things. 
This, in turn, will drive greater adoption, additional growth 
opportunities, and societal benefits.
  I thank Vice Chairman Lance for his leadership on this important 
issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Let me congratulate Mr. Lance, Mr. Welch, Mr. Latta, and 
Congresswoman Clarke for their work on this important legislation.
  The Internet of things is an area of great innovation that deserves 
attention from Congress. And fortunately, in our subcommittee, we have 
done just that.
  Today, people track their physical activity with wearable devices. We 
have thermostats in our home that you can control from your phone from 
anywhere in the world. And that is, of course, only scratching the 
surface of consumer products that are right now available.
  We have been examining some of the issues related to the Internet of 
things in the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee. One 
thing is clear to me: technology is moving at a rapid pace, and our 
laws need to keep pace. I support developing a Federal strategy for how 
we approach this exciting area of technology.
  I would like to underscore a few key principles that must be a part 
of this approach: one, data security must be protected; two, Americans 
should understand and consent to the information that consumer devices 
are collecting; three, these products should be developed with safety 
in mind.
  Agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Product 
Safety Commission already work to promote data security, consumer 
privacy, and safety. But Congress needs to make sure we provide these 
agencies the resources and authorities necessary to address today's 
issues.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to promote innovation in 
this space and to ensure that the Internet of things further develops 
in a manner that works for business as well as consumers.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Lance), the author of this legislation, vice chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
  Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I have never been prouder of the Commerce, 
Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee than I am on this issue. I 
congratulate Chairman Burgess and Ranking Member Schakowsky for their 
leadership on this issue, and certainly Mr. Welch for his leadership as 
well.
  I offer this resolution to highlight the importance of the Internet 
of things, also known as the Internet of everything. The Internet of 
things is the network of sensors and electronics in physical objects, 
ranging from household appliances, such as thermostats to manufacturing 
equipment.
  The Internet of things currently connects tens of billions of devices 
worldwide and assists consumers in nearly every aspect of their daily 
lives, including in the field of agriculture, education, energy, health 
care, public safety, security, and transportation, among many others. 
The lives of nearly every American are run more efficiently thanks to 
the Internet of things and the great advances in innovation here in the 
21st century.
  Our role in Congress should be to help make the Internet of things 
thrive, to facilitate a Federal support system that empowers exciting 
new ideas. Ideas such as the 5G radio by Nokia Bell Labs in Murray 
Hill--Nokia has taken over Bell Labs, but, of course, Bell Labs is 
fabled in the history of this country and had been so for many, many 
years--the Smart Cities initiative by Qualcomm in Bridgewater--also in 
the district I represent--and Verizon in Basking Ridge are helping 
towns and cities maintain high standards of livability, resiliency, and 
sustainability by using IOT technology to help city planners create 
better qualities of life.
  Of course, as Chairman Burgess has indicated, healthcare applications 
in this area are very promising. They are patient centered and they are 
economically beneficial. This will be beneficial not only to patients 
but, of course, to the Medicare and Medicaid programs as well.
  According to the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the 
Internet of things has the potential to contribute anywhere from $4 
trillion to $11 trillion to the economy over the course of the next 
several decades--this is an enormous increase--based upon innovation 
here in the 21st century.

  The resolution expresses the current and potential future benefits of 
the Internet of things. I hope that it will put Congress on record in 
working for its growth and success.
  This is really at the heart of what we should be doing in Congress in 
a bipartisan capacity: getting ahead of the curve on the future of 
technology in the United States, as the United States, we all hope, 
will continue to be the leader worldwide in this and other matters. 
That is why the Internet of things is so important. That is why I am so 
pleased to be involved with others in this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that this, of course, will pass unanimously, and 
I hope that it will be a harbinger for what we should doing in Congress 
in so many other areas as well.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch), a cosponsor and coauthor of 
this legislation, as well as my good friend.
  Mr. WELCH. I appreciate the gentlewoman's leadership and, by the way, 
for her fierce leadership on consumer rights for the bill that just 
passed. I thank my colleagues, Mr. Burgess and Mr. Lance, whom I really 
appreciate, and, of course, the committee chair, Fred Upton, and 
Ranking Member Frank Pallone.
  Mr. Speaker, you would be glad to know that we work pretty hard to be 
bipartisan and productive in the Energy and Commerce Committee. It 
takes a good deal of effort on both sides.
  This legislation is really an acknowledgement about this new 
technology--the application of the Internet to activities that are 
cutting across the entire economy, everything from agriculture to 
medicine--and it is an acknowledgment by Congress that this is a 
private sector-led, entrepreneurial-led range of opportunities that has 
the potential to increase efficiency and productivity.
  For instance, on farms you have GPS planting done by GPS-guided 
tractors. It results in much better planting with fewer seeds. It saves 
money and increases crop yields.
  In medicine, as you know, telemedicine is being tremendously helpful 
to folks, like in Vermont, where we are a very rural State and it is 
tough for folks to make a 60-, 70-mile journey to the VA. With 
telemedicine, we are able to have the doctor in that person's local 
office. So it is a tremendous benefit to consumers there as well.
  The other thing that is really important is that, for this to be 
deployed, it is not a matter of us trying to come up with a regulation. 
The innovations that are occurring are so rapid that it really would be 
impossible for anybody to write a regulation that would be anything but 
obstructive.
  On the other hand, with Congress getting involved, there are going to 
be, as we go along, some issues of privacy and some issues of 
cybersecurity. When it comes to health records, all of us are going to 
be certain that those records are safe and private. When it comes to 
other things, like if somebody hacks into your Fitbit and finds out how 
many steps you took in a day, it is not such a big deal.
  But this is where Congress is going to have to play a role, because 
industry is going to want to be certain that the rights of their 
consumers and the users of their products are being protected and their 
information is private and safe.
  So we are acknowledging, as a Congress, Republicans and Democrats, 
that there is this new frontier with use of the Internet where 
entrepreneurs in the private sector are coming up with applications 
that can improve efficiency and productivity in almost every walk of 
life.
  One of the ongoing challenges in our committee will be to make 
certain that the broadband infrastructure that

[[Page H5300]]

is required in order to make this benefit available to folks in rural 
America is built out properly.
  I have been working very closely with Bob Latta of Ohio, who has a 
big rural district, to try to make certain that we have a commitment in 
the technology space for broadband deployment all across America. It 
makes a huge difference in rural communities in our State of Vermont 
and Bob Latta's district in Ohio, where, if you have somebody who has 
got a good idea in a business, if they are in a small town with a 
population of a couple hundred people, as long as they have high-speed 
Internet, they are going to be able to take advantage of this.
  So it is a pleasure, I think, for all of us to find something that we 
agree on that is substantive and is important. I thank all the folks 
who have had a hand in bringing us here to this moment where we are 
going to have an opportunity to vote on this resolution.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I will close with this. The language of this resolution 
is very clear. It is the sense of the House of Representatives: ``the 
United States should develop a national strategy to encourage the 
development of the Internet of things in a way that maximizes the 
promise connected technologies hold to empower consumers, foster future 
economic growth, and improve the Nation's collective social well-
being.''
  So, with passing this resolution, we are setting the table for future 
work to make sure that we encourage these developments.
  I want to thank so much all the sponsors and our chairmen of the 
subcommittee and full committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I thank Vice Chairman Lance for his leadership on this important 
issue, and I urge an ``aye'' vote on the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 847, which would express the sense of the House of Representatives 
about a national strategy for the Internet of Things.
  We are truly living in the internet age, and new technologies are 
developing each day. High performing mobile devices and cloud 
technologies that seemed so new are already commonplace in the business 
world and at home.
  Broadband internet access is expanding into communities across the 
nation, and it is more affordable than ever. As innovators add internet 
connectivity to an increasing number of ordinary objects, we need to be 
thinking ahead to the next big thing.
  H. Res. 847 expresses the sense that we need to encourage innovation 
and development of these technologies through cooperation with industry 
and consumers. It is also important to look ahead to how the Internet 
of Things can be used to improve the efficiency of our government and 
reduce waste and abuse.
  By preparing for these technologies now, our nation will enjoy 
greater benefits in the future. I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 847.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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