State of Modern Application, Research, and Trends of Iot Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague from Ohio for introducing this legislation and shepherding it through committee and onto the floor.

The SMART IoT, Internet of Things, Act is a product of bipartisan cooperation. As I did during subcommittee markup, I want to thank Chairman Latta and Congressman Welch for their leadership on this issue, going back to the IoT Working Group in the 114th Congress.

This bill will require the Commerce Department to survey the varieties of connected devices available and examine the Federal role in this space. The study conducted under this bill should serve as the foundation for future legislative efforts as we work to ensure that Internet-connected devices are deployed to the benefit of the American consumer.

The SMART IoT Act is being considered under suspension of the rules after committee consideration under regular order. After a series of hearings on the Internet of things, Republican and Democratic staff worked together on a discussion draft of the bill.

Earlier this year, we held a legislative hearing where we heard testimony from the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Chamber of Commerce, and Intel. That hearing raised several issues that we should continue to examine; including privacy, security, and safety. We are leaving major consumer protection issues unresolved in this area and other areas.

Earlier this month, in Chicago, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the passage of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which included provisions that I worked on to include and improve the safety of children's toys. Advocates there discussed how more work needs to be done to ensure that children's toys are safe.

Someone mentioned how smart toys are becoming more and more available, and questions were raised: Are these smart toys able now to track our kids and where they are? So, the technologies have changed the safety of toys, and we have to be sure that we are looking at that.

Our anger over misuse of consumer data has been bipartisan, but we have not yet come together on solutions. I am hopeful that we will be able to change that in the coming months.

As many Members of this body are aware, I have introduced the Secure and Protect America's Data Act, which I believe is a good starting point to begin discussion.

I continue to urge my Republican colleagues to bring their ideas to the table so we can work together to find common ground. American consumers deserve action.

For now, I am pleased to move forward on legislation where we have reached consensus like this. I look forward to continuing our cooperation on this legislation as it moves to full committee in the weeks ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source