Fred Upton

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the great State of Michigan (Mr. Trott), a fellow conferee.

Mr. UPTON. Absolutely is the answer, yes. Section 601, the State demonstration grants for comprehensive opioid abuse response, is designed to allow States the flexibility to do what is right and aid in establishing a comprehensive response. Under this grant, we emphasize prevention and treatment, but those are not the only two ways to address the opioid epidemic. Recovery, like the good work that Chairman Goodlatte cited in his district, as it is in mine, is equally as important. We need a comprehensive response to the crisis that should leave no stone unturned in our quest for helping those in need. I want to thank the chairman for his help in that effort, and I absolutely agree with his reading of the bill.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance), a fellow conferee and member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The simple truth is that we are in the midst of a real epidemic. Nearly every 12 minutes, someone in America dies of a drug overdose. The CDC reports over a quarter billion opioid prescriptions were written in the year 2012. The abuse of prescription painkillers and heroin has impacted, virtually, every single community. It is an epidemic that has no boundaries and does not discriminate. In my State of Michigan, we are seeing 10 times as many deaths today as there were 15 years ago. Sadly, the number continues to surge; but behind every statistic is a person who was loved, part of a family and community, and, yes, who was lost too soon. It is a frightening reality, but we have to face this epidemic head on, and today's vote is an important step forward. Since the beginning of this process, our focus has been, and continues to be, on attacking this public health crisis from every side, from zeroing in on treatment for addiction and overdoses to reforming prescription practices in the delivery of medicines and working with law enforcement of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Specifically, this conference report addresses prevention care by requiring HHS to create an interagency task force to address chronic and pain management care and by reauthorizing NASPER, a piece of legislation the House has passed with very large bipartisan support. The conference report addresses treatment by ensuring opioid reversal medication is accessible to patients, their family members and, yes, first responders as well. These medications are key to stopping the overdose epidemic and getting these patients into proper treatment to become productive members of our society. The conference report also ensures proper oversight and accountability by including the majority leader's OPEN Act. The conference report, as a whole, touches on the spectrum of issues driving the opioid crisis. While there is no one solution, we are making progress in addressing a problem that has rapidly grown. So I want to thank all my colleagues--certainly on the Energy and Commerce Committee that I chair and those off--for working to advance these important bipartisan bills that will make a real difference in our communities. I am also proud that our final package has achieved the support of over 200 of the Nation's leading advocacy groups, groups from across the country that are focused on recovery. These advocates are on the front lines in this epidemic and truly appreciate the positive impact that our solutions will have in every community. There is an urgency to our work as drug overdose deaths surge in Michigan and beyond. We owe this effort to the past, present, and, sadly, future victims of the opioid epidemic; our neighbors, friends, family across every part of the family in every demographic group. So let's come together and get the job done. What we are doing will save lives. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 809, I call up the conference report on the bill (S. 524) to authorize the Attorney General to award grants to address the national epidemics of prescription opioid abuse and heroin use, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Mimi Walters).

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski), my partner in terms of a contiguous border and also a conferee.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus).

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank my friend and partner, Mr. Pallone. We moved a majority of these bills through the committee on a bipartisan basis. We had those votes here on the floor, a very strong vote as the process moved. Mr. Speaker, this bill is about treatment. It is about prevention. It is about recovery, helping law enforcement, particularly with our drug courts, and it adds new resources to help communities suffering from this terrible opioid epidemic. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act represents the most serious and comprehensive effort ever undertaken by this body to tackle the problem. CARA is a bipartisan blend of the best ideas from the House and the Senate. These bills passed with a combined 494 votes in the House and the Senate and, coupled with the great work led just this week by the House Appropriations Committee to add $581 million to help fund and prioritize these programs, it shows that we are tackling the problem head-on. Now, this is an authorization bill, not an appropriation bill. That is why, coupled with the appropriators, I think that we will get the job done. As I have said, at the end of the day, the money will be there. So those on the front lines fighting the opioid epidemic deserve a strong vote in the people's House. I would urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's words. I was very pleased to work with her on the successful amendment that we added in the conference as part of this agreement, and I look for its swift passage today. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), also a conferee and a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan), a fellow conferee and a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the conference report to accompany S. 524.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, today marks an important milestone in the multiyear, multi-Congress effort to deliver meaningful reforms to the Nation's mental health system. Last month, the Energy and Commerce Committee passed this bill 53-0 in committee. It has been bipartisan. We know that this is an issue that impacts every community and so many families in one way or another. We continue to hear tales of great loss where intervention was lacking or nonexistent. So we got to work. We spent hundreds and hundreds of hours--I am not kidding--in staff work and work by Members. For way too long, mental health was a subject that was left in the shadows. Thankfully, that is no longer the case. Today we have developed a thoughtful solution. Throughout the process, we have achieved many important reforms. Today we build upon that momentum. Our current system of siloed grants, prevention, and treatment simply doesn't work the way it should. This bill changes that with real reforms to provide SAMHSA new tools, under the leadership of a new Assistant Secretary, and we have done it the way that we should. This bipartisan bill will save lives, aid families, and provide comfort and relief to those who are struggling. Mr. Speaker, today marks an important milestone in the multi-year, multi-Congress effort to deliver meaningful reforms to the nation's mental health system. Last month, the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved H.R. 2646 by a vote of 53 to zero to help families in mental health crisis. This is an issue that impacts every community, and so many families, in one way or another. We continue to hear tales of great loss where intervention was lacking or nonexistent. But you know what? Congressman Tim Murphy got to work. For way too long, mental health was a subject left for the shadows. Thankfully, that's no longer the case. Today, we have developed a thoughtful legislative solution. Throughout this process, we have achieved important reforms and today we build upon that momentum. Our current system of siloed grants, prevention, and treatment simply does not work as well as it should. The ``Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act'' includes new reforms to make sure the federal government is leveraging their dollars with investments in evidence- based programs. The bill includes reforms to provide SAMHSA new tools, under the leadership of an Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to do its job better. Thoughtful legislating takes time and dedication. This Congress we have seen multi-year landmark committee efforts finally make it across the finish line in SGR reform, pipeline safety and chemical safety reforms, which were both signed into law late last month. 21st Century Cures has taken years, and we continue to make progress. And I am hopeful these mental health reforms that we have long pursued are on the same path to being signed into law, building upon our proud bipartisan record of success. This bipartisan bill will save lives, aid families, and provide comfort and relief to those struggling. This strong bill is something that both Republicans and Democrats can be proud of. I thank Dr. Murphy, Health Subcommittee Chairman Pitts, full committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone and the staff, who worked hundreds of hours to bring us to where we are today. This bill will truly make a real difference and deliver meaningful reforms to families in mental health crisis all across America.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, pipeline safety is especially personal for me. Back in 2010, we experienced a bad spill just outside of my district in southwest Michigan that impacted the Kalamazoo River. Ask anyone who was directly affected. Seeing the aftermath firsthand smacks the senses and leaves a lasting impression. While a spill can happen in an instant, the damage can take decades and, in fact, more than $1 billion to fix. Underscoring the need for strong safety laws is what this bill does. Congress asked the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration--that is PHMSA for short--to develop and enforce pipeline safety regulations. PHMSA doesn't do the job by itself. It relies heavily on partnerships with States and local governments to inspect the pipelines and, yes, to enforce the law; but the reality is that more can be done to prevent accidents from occurring and to mitigate spills when the unthinkable happens. The amendment to the Senate bill before us today, this bill, incorporates texts from two House bills, which were both approved unanimously in committee: H.R. 5050, the Pipeline Safety Act, which passed the Committee on Energy and Commerce; and H.R. 4937, the PIPES Act of 2016, which passed the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This important legislation will reauthorize PHMSA's pipeline safety through 2019, press PHMSA to complete overdue safety regs, and impose additional new safety requirements for pipeline operators. I have often said that pipelines should be subject to greater scrutiny and more frequent inspections, and those that cross the Straits of Mackinac are a perfect example. The Straits of Mackinac is a narrow waterway that separates Michigan's two peninsulas. It connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The exceptionally strong and complex currents hundreds of feet deep make this area tremendously sensitive. If a spill were to occur, the consequences would be unthinkable. Our solution improves protections for the Great Lakes and other areas around the country where the threat of a spill poses the greatest risk to public safety and the environment. It also requires pipeline operators to consider a worst-case discharge into icy waters and conduct more frequent and transparent and, in some cases, annual inspections of deep underwater crossings. This bill does that. We also update and improve PHMSA's pipeline safety program in a number of other ways by closing the gaps in Federal standards for underground natural gas storage and liquefied natural gas facilities. It promotes better use of data and technology and improves communication with pipeline operators to incorporate the lessons learned from past incidents. We promised action, and today that is what this bill does. I am proud of the bipartisan agreement that will make a real difference. I am proud of the relationship that our committee has with Chairman Shuster and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and all the good work that everyone has done--Mr. Pallone, Mr. Rush, and our colleagues in the Senate. This is a bipartisan bill. Let's get 'er done.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, jobs, the economy, and public health all are very critical priorities for the American people. It is possible, in fact, to pursue policies that simultaneously protect all three of them. Today we have a balanced approach in the Ozone Standards Implementation Act, and it does exactly that. Addressing ozone levels has been one of the major successes of the 1970 Clean Air Act. Across the country, ozone levels, in fact, have declined dramatically, having declined nearly one-third since 1980. The EPA's 2008 ozone standard would have continued that success by setting out a program to achieve further reductions for many years to come. But the EPA failed to finalize the implementing regs and guidance for the 2008 rule until just last year, and as a result, States are currently still in the process of implementing the rule. Although EPA had difficulty finalizing the 2008 regs, the Agency had no such problems coming up with a new ozone standard so unworkable for certain areas of the country that even the Agency itself concedes the technologies to fully implement and to comply still don't exist. And now, States are stuck with the impossible task of applying both standards concurrently. In my district in southwest Michigan, in Allegan County, you could, in fact, remove every piece of human activity--roads, barbecues, jobs, move everybody out--and the region still would be in nonattainment because of the ozone that is generated from Chicago, Milwaukee, and Gary, Indiana. The new standard would result in potentially hundreds of counties across the Midwest--certainly a good number of them in Michigan--that would be designated as nonattainment, resulting in fewer new businesses or expansions of existing ones, and even fewer major construction and other infrastructure projects. The threat of future nonattainment designation has a chilling effect and encourages employers to move someplace else, even out of the United States to relocate abroad. So it is essentially often a kiss of death for economic growth, and it comes at a time when our fragile economy can least afford it. This thoughtful solution, this bill, retains the 2008 standard--yes, it does--but it provides additional time for States to comply with the new standard until after the current one has been fully implemented. It is common sense. Under this bill, we will have in place a more streamlined and effective schedule to ensure continued improvements in air quality in the years ahead. The bill also has a number of sensible provisions to address practical implementation challenges that States face under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards program. It extends the mandatory review process from 5 years to a more workable 10, while allowing the EPA Administrator the discretion to review and revise standards earlier if circumstances warrant. It requires that EPA's implementing regs and guidance come out along with a new standard so that States and affected entities will have the direction that they need to comply. The good news is, under this bill, ozone levels continue their long- term downward trend, and we can accomplish that goal without jeopardizing jobs.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish the chairman a happy birthday. It has been nearly a decade since we last considered an energy package like this. In that time, a lot has changed. Continued innovation and discovery across the energy sector have brought about a new landscape of abundant supply and tremendous potential for economic growth. This has been a multiyear, multi-Congress effort, and a lot of work has gone in to make sure that the bill that we put forward to support the future of American energy is truly comprehensive. Together with our colleagues, I am proud to be moving this legislation one step closer to becoming the new reality for energy producers and consumers across the country. This bill is about jobs. It is about keeping energy affordable. It is about boosting our energy security here and across the globe. H.R. 8 is the embodiment of an all-of-the-above energy strategy. One of the most important provisions is, in fact, modernizing and protecting critical energy infrastructure, including the electric grid, from new threats, including severe weather from climate, cyber threats, and physical attacks as well. It helps to foster and promote new 21st century energy jobs by ensuring that the Department of Energy and our labs and universities work together to train the energy workforce and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. It makes energy efficiency, including Federal Government energy efficiency, a priority, and focuses less on creating new mandates and subsidies to incentivize behavior and more on market changes and using the government as an example. Finally, it helps update existing laws that bring some added certainty to permitting processes and helps to promote using our abundant resources to aid in diplomacy. For example, by streamlining the approval process for projects such as the interstate natural gas pipelines and LNG export facilities, the legislation will allow businesses at the cutting edge of research to keep putting the full scope of energy abundance to work for consumers both here and abroad. This allows us to provide an energy lifeline to our allies across the globe. Provisions within H.R. 8 and others that have been included in the amendment under consideration today also seek to capitalize on energy sources that the administration has rejected. H.R. 8 brings much-needed reforms to the hydropower licensing process as well, a clean energy source that, together with nuclear, provides some 25 percent of the United States' electricity, with no greenhouse gas emissions. It is imperative that hydropower remains a vital part of any future. The all-of-the-above energy strategy also means that the future of American energy does not need to be a series of choices between the environment and the economy. By introducing 21st century regulatory reforms that reflect our energy abundance, and with the DOE's Quadrennial Energy Review as a guide, this bill will help bring about needed reforms and continued innovation across the energy sector. The legislation before us today is the product of a thorough assessment of the gap that we face between our stale energy regulations and our budding energy supply. H.R. 8 closes the gap. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, today really does mark a milestone, a milestone for our majority, a milestone for this Congress, and a milestone for the American people, as we make great strides to update our Nation's chemical safety laws. Folks said it could not be done, especially with Republicans in Congress and a Democratic President. This was a multiyear effort that dates back to at least the last Congress. But we took the time, and we did the hard work. We put in countless hours of discussions and negotiations virtually every weekend, and it paid off. This legislation will have monumental impacts for commerce, the environment, and public health. In 1976, under the leadership of Michigan's great President Jerry Ford, TSCA was a novel approach to regulating interstate commercial activity to address unreasonable risks presented by a chemical. It was not meant to examine every piece of chemical manufacturing and use, but, rather, to provide a backstop of protection when suspicions about dangerous chemicals were not being addressed. In the nearly 40 years since TSCA's enactment, there have been persistent concerns about the pace of the EPA's work on chemicals, the ability of the Agency to meaningfully use its existing authority, and whether the statute prevents certain regulatory efforts. Over the last 3 years, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has conducted nine hearings, all on the aspects of TSCA. We learned that there is public confusion about chemical-specific safety claims. We learned that people think that the EPA should clear up that confusion and be more diligent on risky chemicals. Finally, we learned that companies and workers were disadvantaged in a domestic and global marketplace where conflicting regulatory standards, indeed, hamper trade. Within the last decade, a variety of factors, including the EPA's slow pace in regulating chemicals already on the market, have led to several new State chemical control statutes. Some States have passed laws ranging from specific chemical restrictions to general chemical labeling requirements, like Prop 65 in California. Meanwhile, some retailers have called out for an objective scientific assessment of chemicals in consumer products. Almost a year ago our committee unanimously reported this bill and the House passed it 398-1. In December, the Senate approved a package of TSCA reforms. The Senate's bill was quite different from the House, but the compromise agreement--this one--includes many of the Senate policy details. The resolution before us gives EPA more direct tools in obtaining testing information on chemical substances, specifying key points in the evaluation and regulatory process where EPA may order testing. In addition, the compromise text reduces animal testing required under TSCA. It restructures the way existing chemicals are evaluated and regulated. The bill clarifies the treatment of trade secrets submitted to EPA.

Mr. UPTON. The resolution specifies that EPA must protect trade secrets submitted to it for a renewable period of 10 years. The resolution also creates a new system to claim, substantiate and resubstantiate, review, and adjudicate requests for protection of trade secrets. Finally, it organizes the Federal-State regulatory relationship in a way that makes sense for promoting interstate and global commerce, but also recognizes the efforts taken by a number of States. The amendment makes accommodations for some existing State requirements and tort actions as well. Today, we have a landmark, bipartisan, bicameral agreement that makes substantial changes to the existing law. This resolution is supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, ranging from environmental and public health groups to large and small industrial organizations. It is worthy of every Member's support. Before I close, I want to say a word of thanks to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, Frank Pallone and Paul Tonko. I know the last couple of weeks have not exactly been a picnic--a few ants, et cetera--but they know that this is a better bill because of their involvement. But the real impetus behind this whole project has been John Shimkus. What a guy. Without his leadership, we simply never would have reached this point. Also, I want to thank the dedicated and hardworking staff who tirelessly worked to get us where we are today: Dave McCarthy, Jerry Couri, Tina Richards, and Chris Sarley. I thank them all. At times it may not have been a labor of love, but we have got a finished product that will indeed make a difference. This bill is good for jobs. It is good for consumers. It is good for the environment. It is the most meaningful and impactful update to issues involving the environment and the economy that we have made in many decades, and soon it will be law. The President will sign it, and he will be grateful for all of our hard work, dedication, and legislative achievement that every one of us can be proud of.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following exchange of letters. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, May 3, 2016. Hon. Fred Upton, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Upton: I am writing with respect to H.R. 4981, the ``Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Expansion and Modernization Act,'' which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary. As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions in H.R. 4981 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary, I agree to discharge our Committee from further consideration of this bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration. The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 4981 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. Our Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation, and asks that you support any such request. I would appreciate a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 4981, and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration of H.R. 4981. Sincerely, Bob Goodlatte, Chairman.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, every 12 minutes someone in the U.S. dies of a drug overdose. Abuse of prescription painkillers and heroin has impacted every single community. It is an epidemic. It doesn't have boundaries and doesn't discriminate. We have lost a lot of good kids and a lot of good people in my State and every State. As I travel back and forth to Michigan virtually every week, I meet a family member who has lost somebody with this very tragic story. This last week it was a mother and a wife of a fellow who had committed suicide in Mattawan, Michigan. It breaks your heart. Yes, we know the numbers. They are staggering. The CDC reports that nearly 260 million opioid prescriptions were written in 2012. That is one for every single U.S. adult, as my friend Mr. Pallone said, with another 20 million to spare. A recent study from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that one in five Americans say they have a family member who has been addicted to prescription painkillers. The epidemic is unique to the U.S., as Americans consume 80 percent of the world's opioid prescriptions. It is not unique. It is a frightening reality, but we have to face the epidemic head-on. That is why today is an important step. In the Energy and Commerce Committee, we have held a number of hearings over the last year with testimony from so many experts on the front lines. What we learned is eye-opening. Federal policies toward opioid addiction in the past year have often overemphasized a one-size-fits-all law enforcement approach. It is clear through our listening sessions that it is a public health crisis and that our strategy should reflect the complex dynamic between public health and criminal activity. We know that we cannot simply incarcerate our way out of this epidemic. The bills that we are considering today touch on a spectrum of issues driving the opioid crisis. While there is no one solution, these bills represent good steps in addressing a problem that has rapidly grown. I want to thank all of my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee and off for working to adhere in a bipartisan way these important bills that will really make a difference in every one of our communities. The House leadership deserves recognition on both sides for their swift consideration of these bills. I want to thank, in particular, my good friend, Mr. Pallone, for working with us to get these bills across the finish line, through the committee process, and now on the floor. Our work is going to continue. We owe this effort to the past, present, and, sadly, future victims of this epidemic: our neighbors, friends, and families across every part of the country, every demographic group. We owe it to the families and we owe it to the communities who are suffering from this addiction.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, last Friday, we celebrated Earth Day. Every year on April 22 we recognize how much we have at stake in preserving the wondrous natural resources of not just the United States, but of the entire planet. As someone who has sponsored important legislation to upgrade pipeline safety standards and keep microbeads out of our waters while helping to broker a landmark deal that opened up markets for energy exports and extended tax credits for renewables, I understand the many momentous ways in which we have improved the environment within our great country since the first Earth Day in 1970. And no organization has captured the many ways in which our private businesses have made, and continue to make, huge strides toward sustainability than the Business Roundtable. But to me and so many of our colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, the unsung heroes in the effort to make our nation cleaner and more abundant are the private companies that develop technologies that are responsible for a cleaner environment. They are the ones who have developed technologies that have helped to clean our Nation's vital waterways, including the Great Lakes. They have cleaned the air in Los Angeles, where the ``brown layer'' over the entire basin of 30-40 years ago is a distant memory. This is thanks to breakthroughs from auto manufacturers and oil refiners alike. Chemical companies are enhancing energy efficiency in our homes and businesses, and increasing the productivity of our farmland. The ability to tap into natural gas that seemed out of reach, if we even knew it existed, has enabled us to radically reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The Business Roundtable has done us all a great service by canvassing its members and compiling a document, entitled ``Create, Grow, Sustain: People and Technology at Work'' that acquaints us with the technologies that these very companies have used so effectively, and the cutting- edge approaches they have developed that will facilitate sustainability long into the future. This report represents a catalog of technologies promise to bring about advances under the heading of sustainability at an even more rapid pace than we seen over the past decades. The future is bright indeed. Mr. Speaker, I hope our colleagues will take the time to review the Business Roundtable 2016 sustainability report so they can see for themselves the exciting technologies being put into commerce by our leading companies.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, we have built a proud, bipartisan record of success, and this legislation will help our nation's small businesses which are the lifeblood of Michigan's economy, and the American economy as a whole. A quick look at the stats reveals small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employers in the United States, and they are true job creators, consistently accounting for 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs in each of the past ten years. Small Internet providers in particular serve a unique role in connecting consumers across the country. They provide service to rural constituents, to other small businesses, and to areas of the country that otherwise would lack any alternative. They often do so with very few resources, relying on a smaller number of employees to do a great deal of work. The bill that we will vote on today makes sure that they can continue to do so without being hampered by regulatory burdens and red tape. The Small Business Broadband Deployment Act builds on the temporary steps taken by the Federal Communications Commission to exempt small providers from the enhanced transparency requirements adopted as part of the 2015 Open Internet Order. At the time, the Commission recognized that there could be a significant impact on smaller businesses, and rightfully exempted them from the requirements. However, the FCC's grant of a series of temporary exemptions does not give these businesses the certainty they need to make informed investment decisions. H.R. 4596 is a bipartisan solution to this problem. By extending the exemption for five years, and raising the threshold for the definition at a small business, this legislation will protect small businesses and ultimately benefit consumers. Keeping these entrepreneurs focused on laying fiber, building towers, and improving service means a better Internet experience for their customers, and more jobs. This is what they set out to accomplish when they started their businesses--serving their communities, not spending hours or days complying with a maze of regulations and piles of paperwork. Our committee spent a great deal of time considering this problem. In addition, the robust record at the FCC in support of the exemption confirmed our view that this extension was necessary. We heard directly from witnesses like the president of a small fixed wireless provider, a former FCC commissioner, and a public interest representative. Their input both on how important this bill is, and on how to improve our early draft bill, helped us to come to the final version we are considering today. Subcommittee Chairman Walden and Representative Loebsack worked in a bipartisan way to come to a consensus on legislation that achieves all of our goals. The final product is a bill that we can all be proud to support, and I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense solution.