Technology and Communications

Rapid technological innovation is changing the way we live, how we work and access information and entertainment, and revolutionizing everything from agriculture and the auto industry, to manufacturing and medicine.

As a member of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, I am working to ensure the benefits of the digital age are accessible for all families and business in Michigan—including rural areas—while promoting a regulatory environment which allows for continued technological growth and innovation.

Expanding Broadband

As a member of the Rural Broadband Caucus, I understand that expanding broadband deployment to rural America is essential to allow these residents to take part in our increasingly digital world. Now more than ever, every household should have access to a connection, whether it be for telehealth visits, homework, or just surfing the web. Serving rural America poses unique challenges, and there are still far too many individuals who lack access to broadband internet and the benefits it offers. There is no simple fix to closing this “digital divide,” but Congress can take important steps to expand access to high-speed Internet.

In August 2022, I introduced H.R. 8679, PLAN for Broadband Act, which would require that the relevant Federal agencies create a detailed strategy to close the digital divide. A coordinated national strategy will ensure that funding for broadband deployment is getting to the truly unserved and rural communities that need it.

In 2021, I joined my Republican colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to introduce a 28 bill package called the Boosting Broadband Connectivity Agenda. It includes a wide range of common-sense bills to promote innovation and investment, including one I authored to remove barriers for broadband buildout.

I also introduced H.R.1032, Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act,legislation to develop a pipeline of skilled technicians so we have the workforce necessary to deploy broadband to the communities who need it most. I’m proud to say that this legislation was signed into law as a part of a larger package in November 2021.

In March 2018, I voted in support of H.R. 4986, RAY BAUM'S Act, which was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act and signed into law by the President on March 23, 2018. The legislation reauthorized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the first time in 28 years, including reforms to ensure the commission continues to improve its efficiency and transparency. The bill included $600 million in appropriated funding for a new pilot grant and loan combination program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to provide broadband to under-served rural and tribal areas.

The reauthorization also included provisions promoting broadband Internet access service for veterans, in particular low-income veterans and veterans living in rural areas. In May 2019, the FCC submitted its report on veteran broadband access to Congress.

Expanding Access to Spectrum

From smartphones, to tablets, to the Internet of Things, a myriad of new connected devices come online each day that rely on spectrum resources. Unlocking additional spectrum is key to meeting the growing demands of mobile broadband and competing with countries like China, and I am working to identify better ways to expand access to and improve the efficiency of the federal government's use of spectrum for both licensed and unlicensed use. In a world with more competition and less easy choices to make about our spectrum resources, we must continue to lead the world on innovative ways we manage our spectrum.

I worked alongside my colleagues in the Energy and Commerce Committee, to introduceH.R. 7624, Spectrum Innovation Act, a bill which would help protect national security, improve our public safety communications, and continue to push the Administration to manage our nation’s airwaves more effectively. The legislation was reported out of the Committee and passed the House in July 2022.

Protecting You Online

Today, many of our daily interactions happen online. Whether it be for work, school, or connecting with friends, keeping the Internet a safe and open platform for users of all ages and ideologies is essential.

Kids and teens are facing increasing dangers online. 97% of teens say they use the internet daily, meanwhile instances of cyberbullying, self-harm, and illegal drug sales have increased sharply. In 2021, I introduced H.R. 1781, PROTECT Kids Act.The legislation would increase protections for children and teens online and provide parents with more tools to monitor what information Big Tech platforms have on their kids. As a part of the Big Tech Accountability Platform, I also included languagethat would eliminate Big Tech’s liability shield in situations of cyberbullying of those under the age of 18.

As a member of the Big Tech Task Force, I outlined solutions to hold social media companies accountable for privacy violations, censorship, and anticompetitive practices. Consumers, businesses, and startups should not be at the mercy of a few large platforms, and it is imperative that we encourage healthy competition and free expression in the marketplace.

5G Supply Chain Security

As the innovation and deployment of 5G continues in America, it is paramount that we maintain our national security. One of the ways, we can do this is by ensuring America is a leading voice in the worldwide development of 5G. This is why I introduced H.R. 3003, Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act, which puts the U.S. at the forefront of global 5G innovation, by encouraging the participation of trusted American companies in international standard-setting bodies. In July 2021, H.R. 3003 passed the House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support.

Robocalls

In 2021 alone, phone numbers with (517) and (734) area codes received over 200 million robocalls. For far too long, Americans have been plagued by the barrage of harmful and illegal robocall schemes.

In December 2019, I was proud to support S.151, TRACED Act. This bill will put a stop to the endless robocall schemes, by instituting a nationwide call authentication technology that will allow every American to verify and block every call they receive, allowing consumers to trust their caller ID again. This bill also included language I helped introduce which would prevent the harmful practice of one-ring scams that pray on the most vulnerable populations.

To learn more about this decade in the making legislation, click here.

Promoting Innovation

America is a nation built on innovation and our companies are on the leading edge of these transformations. Congress has a role to play in ensuring future innovations can flourish free from undue interference, as the only way the federal government can keep pace with innovation is by promoting a light-touch regulatory approach that enables the digital economy to thrive.