STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014

Floor Speech

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Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the chairman of the full committee, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5728, the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014. I am pleased to see the bipartisan and bicameral effort that took place to bring forth this must-pass legislation.

Through the leadership of Chairman Upton and Chairman Walden and with the bipartisan support of Ranking Member Waxman and Subcommittee Ranking Member Eshoo, this legislation underscores a commitment to ensuring that our communication laws maximize the potential for investment, innovation, and consumer choice.

Mr. Speaker, I am especially pleased this bill incorporates a bipartisan and pro-consumer provision to eliminate the current set-top box integration ban, similar to the one that I, along with Congressman Gene Green, sponsored in the House. Repealing this outdated technological mandate will foster greater investment and innovation in the set-top box market. It is clear that the integration ban is simply unnecessary and does not reflect the technological advancements or consumer demands of today, which have been agreed upon and supported on a bipartisan level, even by the Progressive Policy Institute.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and support this bipartisan legislation. Again, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

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