i2Coalition September 2019 Legislative Update

Your update on important Internet policy issues

This is just a brief legislative update for the public on important Internet policy issues. Join the i2Coalition for in-depth updates from our Policy Director available only to members.

OUTLOOK 

The House and Senate returned from recess on September 9. We are therefore now back into the cycle of gearing up for relevant hearings and dates. i2Coalition members will be preparing to attend our annual legislative fly-in, taking place next week on September 17-18, 2019. 

UPDATES 

TRADE:   

• USMCA – i2Coalition and 10 other trade associations representing a broad group of tech industries sent a letter to Congress urging the speedy passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The letter underlines the agreement’s strong digital trade provisions and the need for modernized rules that reflect America’s digital framework. A link to the letter is here.

FINANCIAL MARKETS:   

• Financial Stability Oversight Council – Reps. Nydia Velazquez and Katie Porter sent a letter to Treasury Sec. Mnuchin asking that the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) consider designating Amazon, Google, and Microsoft systemically important financial market utilities (SIFMU).  An entity is designated as a SIFMU if a failure by the entity, including the company itself failing, would significantly impact the US economy. Such a designation will trigger a number of significant regulatory requirements.

PRIVACY: 

• NIST Privacy Framework – NIST has now opened it’s Public Comment Period for the NIST Privacy Framework, a process that concludes on 10/24/2019. A link to the Framework and Public Comment details are here.

i2Coalition Annual Fly-In:

As most of you know, next week is i2Coalition’s 2019 Congressional Fly-In. We look forward to hosting many of you in Washington, D.C., for a series of fun meetings designed to move our legislative agendas forward on a series of important issues. If you’re signed up for the fly-in, more information is coming soon.

In addition to the two days of legislative meetings, the Congressional Fly-In includes our Seventh Annual Internet Leadership Awards Ceremony. Today, we have announced that i2Coalition member Darcy Southwell has been chosen as this year’s winner of the i2Coalition’s “Ron Yokubaitis Community Leadership Award”, given out each year to recognize one individual from our membership who has made a substantive impact in supporting i2Coalition’s mission to protect and strengthen the Internet’s infrastructure and the community that surrounds it. We have posted a short interview with Darcy, and I wanted to publicly thank her. She will receive the award in person during our Seventh Annual Internet Leadership Awards Ceremony luncheon on Wednesday, September 18th in Washington, D.C.

During that luncheon, we will also be providing awards to this year’s Congressional awards recipients. For a seventh year in a row, we will honor legislators who have worked with us to fight for the Internet’s infrastructure, and bestow upon them our highest legislative honor, the Champion of Internet Innovation award. This year’s legislators being awarded are:

• Rep. Susan DelBene, D-WA

• Rep. Will Hurd, R-TX

We will also hear from both legislators at our awards luncheon. For those of you unable to attend, a summary of the event will be shared.

Among this year’s events will be visits with White House Staff, the NTIA as well as a Diversity Reception and our “Goodbye” event at the Hawk N’ Dove. 

UPCOMING RELEVANT HEARINGS and DATES              

September 10:

Joint House Oversight/House Armed Services, “Securing the Nation’s Internet Architecture.” 2:00 p.m., 2118 Rayburn.

House Judiciary, Markup, including H.R. 2426 CASE Act. 2:00 p.m., 2141 Rayburn.

House Climate Crisis, “Solving the Climate Crisis: Manufacturing Jobs for America’s Workers.” 2:00 p.m., 1334 Longworth.

September 11:

House Energy and Commerce, Communications and Technology Subcommittee, “Legislating to Connect America: Improving the Nations Broadband Maps.” 10:30 a.m., 2322 Rayburn.

Senate Judiciary, IP Subcommittee, “Innovation in America: How Congress Can Make our Patent System STRONGER.” 2:30 p.m., 226 Dirksen.

September 12:

House Judiciary, Antitrust Subcommittee, “Online Platforms and Market Power Part 3: The Role of Data and Privacy in Competition.” 9:00 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.

House Financial Services, Artificial Intelligence Task Force, “The Future of Identity in Financial Services: Threats, Challenges, and Opportunities.” 9:30 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.

Senate Appropriations, Markup, Appropriations bills including Department of Defense and others. 10:30 a.m., 106 Dirksen.

September 17:   

Senate Judiciary, Antitrust Subcommittee, “Oversight of the Enforcement of Antitrust Laws.” 2:30 p.m., 226 Dirksen.    

September 24:

Senate Judiciary, Antitrust Subcommittee, “Competition in Digital Technology Markets: Examining Acquisitions of Nascent or Potential Competitors by Digital Platforms.” 2:30 p.m., 226 Dirksen.