Michael Burgess

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, one of the most important aspects of an efficient market is the free flow of information to consumers. The Internet has added hundreds of billions of dollars to the economy, and much of this is due to the ready access that it affords consumers and businesses access to information. Government officials spend a lot of time worrying about how to ensure that the independent information sources about product and service qualities are available. So the truly great thing about consumer reviews is that, as long as they are reliable sources of information, they are made available at no cost to the consumer or to the taxpayer. But this benefit is in trouble if we allow businesses to prevent information from ever becoming public. Many of us might hesitate before we give that negative review. Others might be eager to let everyone know just how bad their brunch was, but it probably never crosses anyone's mind that they could be fined if they tell the truth. After all, Americans are used to our freedom of speech. In one extreme example brought to us by TripAdvisor, travelers were subjected to a $5 million fine if any ``actual opinions and/or publications are created which, at the sole opinion of the businessowner tends directly to injure him in respect to his trade or business . . . `' Now, this is clearly designed to frighten those who read it and frighten them into silence, and those who don't see it might be surprised to hear from a collection agency asking for $5 million after posting a negative review. The Consumer Review Fairness Act outlaws these gag orders. The prohibition is narrowly tailored to only those contracts where there is no opportunity for meaningful negotiations between the consumer and the business. In other words, it only applies to true form contracts. And the bill doesn't interfere with Web site operators' ability to manage the contacts and reviews on their own Web sites. Reasonable management of online reviews is necessary to ensure that they convey useful information as opposed to irrelevant or offensive content. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support free speech and support the passage of H.R. 5111. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance), the author of the bill and vice chairman of the subcommittee.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support free speech and support the passage of H.R. 5111. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS

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.

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.

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. 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 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.

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. 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. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 835) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should adopt a national policy for technology to promote consumers' access to financial tools and online commerce to promote economic growth and consumer empowerment.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 835. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, I have chaired two hearings in our Disrupter Series exploring fintech. Over the last year, the subcommittee has examined mobile payments, digital currencies, and blockchain technology. There is no question that this new technology is changing the face of global payments and commerce. The rise of the smartphone has drastically changed consumer behavior when it comes to mobile payments. Checking an online account and transferring money is as easy as checking email on your smartphone. In 2014, 22 percent of mobile phone users reported making a purchase on their phone. Thirty-nine percent used their phones to make a purchase in a store. Global investment in financial technology ventures tripled in 2014 to $12 billion, and increased 67 percent in the first quarter of 2016. Payment companies and marketplace lenders account for about two-thirds of these highly valued startups. One of the cutting-edge areas of this innovation is around blockchain, a ledger-based technology fundamentally based on transparency. Blockchain technology holds the potential to disrupt healthcare records management, manufacturing supply chain management, real estate recordkeeping, international clearing and settlement functions, and even regulatory oversight by government agencies. Peer-to-peer asset transfer online has been a challenge for a number of industries since the rise of the Internet. Blockchain technology has offered one potential solution that many industries could leverage in the future to protect their intellectual property. There is no doubt that blockchain innovations are on the cutting edge today. For every story about the amazing potential applications, there is another story outlining a doomsday scenario. While innovation can be frightening, discovery should be encouraged because the public will never see the benefits without assuming some measured risk. This resolution reaffirms Congress' commitment to innovation. I support H. Res. 835, and I would like to thank Mr. Kinzinger and Mr. Cardenas for their leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger), the author of this legislation, in support of his resolution.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1301) to direct the Federal Communications Commission to extend to private land use restrictions its rule relating to reasonable accommodation of amateur service communications, as amended.

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 material into the Record on the bill H.R. 1301.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger).

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS

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 bill.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 921) to provide protections for certain sports medicine professionals who provide certain medical services in a secondary State, as amended.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this worthwhile bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials into the Record on the bill.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the passage of this bill and the future of our nuclear technology industry. I urge an ``aye'' vote. House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, September 8, 2016. Hon. Fred Upton, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 4979, the ``Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2016,'' which your Committee ordered reported on May 18, 2016. H.R. 4979 contains provisions within the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. As a result of your having consulted with the Committee and in order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego action on the bill. This is being done on the basis of our mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees, or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation. I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and would request that you include a copy of this letter and your response in the Congressional Record during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Sincerely, Lamar Smith, Chairman.