Senate Commerce Advances Tech, Telecom Bills
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced four tech and telecom bills (see 2104230076) and NASA administrator nominee Bill Nelson Wednesday on voice votes. The committee also advanced deputy commerce secretary nominee Don Graves on a 25-3 vote. Senate Commerce earlier pulled from consideration the Endless Frontier Act (S-1260) after lawmakers filed more than 230 amendments to the measure (see 2104270045).
Legislation “of the scope and importance” of S-1260 “needs thorough review by this committee and I’m glad we’ll have more time for that process to take place,” Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., said during the meeting. “With such a substantial authorization of funding” in S-1260, “I believe the greater incorporation of other science-focused agencies like the” Department of Energy “would even more substantially contribute to U.S. competitiveness and recognize the various sources of innovation within the federal research enterprise.”
Thune cautioned that S-1260 not concentrate its proposed $112 billion in tech R&D funding in states that already have a heavy tech presence, saying “the status quo where most R&D funding is concentrated in a few states must be upended.” He also noted he and Senate Surface Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., are pushing for amendments to encourage speedy development of autonomous vehicle technology. “The U.S. regulatory framework must catch up with private sector innovation in order for these technologies to advance,” Thune said.
The approved tech and telecom measures were: the Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act (S-15), an amended version of the Safe Connections Act (S-120), an amended version of the Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act (S-163) and the Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act (S-198). Senate Commerce cleared an amendment to S-120 from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, that would change the measure’s requirement that the FCC seek comment on how to help domestic abuse survivors enroll in the Lifeline program for up to six months (see 2101290049) to apply only to those survivors “suffering financial hardship.”
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., said he voted to advance S-120 “with reservation pending further” behind-the-scenes discussion. Thune said during the meeting he hopes the full Senate will pass his S-163 soon: “This legislation will help increase the number of workers enrolled in 5G training programs and identify ways to grow the telecommunications workforce.” Access Now and Public Knowledge urged the Senate to quickly pass S-120. CTIA, USTelecom and the Wireless Infrastructure Association backed S-163.