House Passes Bipartisan Energy and Commerce Bills

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer said the 11 bipartisan bills originating in the Energy and Commerce Committee and passed by the House this week strengthen national telecommunication and energy policy. Cramer sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee and three of its subcommittees, Communications and Technology, Energy, and Environment.
He is an original co-sponsor of two of the bills:
H. R. 460, the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017, requires intermediate providers to register with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and comply with the service quality standards set by the agency in order to improve call quality from long distance or wireless calls in rural areas throughout the country. "This legislation helps correct the disadvantages faced by rural Americans who struggle with poor quality telephone service," said Cramer. "Rural Americans need reliable and consistent telephone service for their businesses and homes."
H.R. 582, Kari's Law Act of 2017, requires that any multi-line telephone system connects directly to 911 when dialed, even in instances where the phone requires the user to dial "9" to get an outside line. The bill was inspired by an East Texas mother killed in a hotel room in 2013 by her estranged husband. Her nine-year-old daughter tried calling 911 from the hotel room four times but wasn't able to get through because she didn't know to dial another nine to reach an outside line. "Kari's Law ensures that any traveler staying in a hotel shouldn't have to wonder in an emergency if a call to 911 will go through," said Cramer. "These changes will not be costly to implement, and will bring peace of mind to anyone in need of 911 emergency services."
The other Energy and Commerce Committee bills passed by the House this week and supported by Cramer are:
H.R. 555, the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017, instructs the FCC to adopt rules that protect the rights of amateur radio operators to use radio equipment in deed-restricted communities.
H.R. 423, the Anti-Spoofing Act of 2017, protects consumers against fraudulent actors and deceptive text messages by updating the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009, which prohibits entities from transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information.
H.R. 290, the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2017, makes the FCC more efficient, transparent, and accountable through reforming the commission's processes and ensuring the FCC regulates in an innovative and dynamic way.
H.R. 588, the Securing Access to Networks in Disaster Act, creates requirements for mobile service providers during emergencies to ensure that consumers have access to networks during disasters, and requires the FCC and GAO to examine the resiliency of networks during these events. In addition, it amends the Stafford Act to ensure all categories of communications service providers may access disaster sites to restore service.
H.R. 599, the Federal Communications Consolidated Reporting Act of 2017, consolidates eight separate reports at the FCC into a single, comprehensive overview of the communications marketplace, reducing reporting burdens and encouraging the agency to analyze competition in the marketplace. H.R 599 passed the House unanimously by voice vote.
HR. 511, the Power and Security Systems (PASS) Act, provides an exemption from energy use restrictions for equipment that needs to be on at all times, such as security or fire alarms.
H.R. 518, the EPS Improvement Act of 2017, exempts certain lighting and ceiling fan technology from an onerous Department of Energy regulation.
H.R. 587, the Fair RATES Act, amends the Federal Power Act to provide opportunities for rehearing of orders affecting rates, even in instances where rates become effective by operation of law.
H.R. 590, the Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2017, requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to develop the regulatory framework needed for safe, advanced nuclear energy technologies and requires the Department of Energy and the NRC to collaborate, where appropriate, in order to develop advanced nuclear technology by maintaining technical expertise and shared facility usage.

Source