National Telecommunications and Information Administration Reauthorization Act of 2025

Floor Speech

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Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Dingell for yielding me time, and I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta), my friend, for his bipartisan partnership on this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the NTIA Reauthorization Act. We introduced this bill to ensure America continues to stand as a global leader in communications and technology.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, plays a vital role in ensuring the United States' strong technological leadership.

This Federal agency is integral for getting people connected, ensuring we can communicate in emergencies, and bolstering our cybersecurity infrastructure. Yet, Congress has not reauthorized NTIA in over 30 years.

The pace of innovation and demand for connectivity has increased dramatically over the last few years. We need strong leadership and expertise to help us meet this demand.

NTIA advises on the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence and manages the efficient uses of our airways. NTIA is also charged with carrying out the bipartisan infrastructure law's historic $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed internet access to communities across America, communities like the Sacramento region where, just 20 minutes outside the city, rural areas still suffer major gaps in broadband coverage.

Progress to close the digital divide, however, is currently at a standstill. This critical broadband funding must not be delayed. We cannot risk changes that waste taxpayer dollars and strand Americans with less affordable and more expensive internet.

We need NTIA to get back to helping our communities access Federal funding. This includes giving our States the flexibility to move ahead with their plans to expand affordable internet to the tens of millions of Americans who still lack access.

While I am glad and very happy to co-lead this bipartisan bill to modernize NTIA's mission in areas like Federal spectrum management and international negotiations, I know there is a lot of work ahead.

Today, we must pass this legislation to empower NTIA to keep the United States as the leader of global tech.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

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