House Commerce Committee Democrats urged colleagues to reject amendments to...
House Commerce Committee Democrats urged colleagues to reject amendments to the Continuing Resolution affecting the FCC’s operations. Committee members Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., filed amendments banning the agency from acting on its December net neutrality order (CD…
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Feb 16 p1). Three other nearly identical amendments were filed by Reps. Connie Mack, R-Fla., Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and Sam Graves, R-Mo. Two amendments offered by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., would ban the agency from using funds to distribute cellphones or subsidize wireless service for low-income Americans under the Universal Service Fund. Two separate amendments, by Reps. Steve Scalise, R-La., and John Carter, R-Texas, would cut the FCC’s chief diversity officer, a position that’s been held by Mark Lloyd. In a Tuesday letter to other members, House Commerce Democrats said there’s “no sound basis” for any of the amendments. “To offer for approval on the floor, without the benefit of prior consideration by our Committee, amendments that terminate FCC proceedings and affect other policy areas completely undercuts the normal legislative process,” the Democrats said. The subjects in the amendments are not urgent, they added. “The Continuing Resolution is a budget bill; riders on the Open Internet rules or other FCC issues have no effect whatsoever on the critical spending and budget issues addressed by the Continuing Resolution. There is ample time to consider these proposals through regular order."