House Communications Subcommittee Democratic Leaders Highlight 2019 Accomplishments

With the first year of the 116th Congress coming to a close, House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) highlighted the Subcommittee’s work to restore network neutrality, combat the robocall epidemic, secure America’s telecommunications supply chain, fix faulty broadband maps, and more. The Subcommittee held 12 hearings, three markups, and passed 11 bills in 2019. Accomplishments listed include:

• Passed through the Subcommittee and Full Committee the Save the Internet Act (HR 1644), which was then passed by the House on April 10 by a vote of 232-190. 
• Passed through the Subcommittee and Full Committee six bills to ensure our nation’s continued dominance in wireless communication, including the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR 4998), a bill to secure our telecommunications supply chain. HR 4998 passed the House by voice vote Dec 16.
• Passed through the Subcommittee and Full Committee two bipartisan bills to ensure the reliability of our nation’s broadband maps. The House passed both bills by voice vote Dec 16. 
• Put forth a comprehensive infrastructure package that expands access to broadband internet through the introduction of the LIFT America Act.  The Full Committee held a legislative hearing on the bill, which seeks to expand access for communities nationwide and bring broadband to 98 percent of the country by investing $40 billion for the deployment of secure and resilient high-speed broadband internet service.