OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

ICANN

Floor Speech

Date: May 7, 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Technology and Communication

Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Speaker, the President recently announced that the U.S. Commerce Department would end its Internet agreement with ICANN, a nonprofit organization who has overseen our databases since 1998.

President Obama's plans could lead to international control and come at a time when nations all over the world are looking for any technological advantage they can gain over the United States.

Both Republicans and Democrats alike agree that the Obama administration's decision to cut ties with ICANN could lead to an uncertain future that hinders free speech and threatens national security.

The United States has always been the most protective country of free speech in the entire world. As other countries and international organizations advocate for a more globalized Web, the trampling of our First Amendment rights and greater censorship will be at an even higher risk.

It is imperative that we closely monitor this situation moving forward to ensure that free speech in any medium is never censored.

In God we trust.


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