Bill Watch.
Thousands of bills are introduced in Congress every year. Only a handful have a chance of becoming law. What makes one bill more likely to pass than another? Many things: whether the sponsors are from the right Committees of jurisdiction; whether the language has made it through the Committee hearing and review process; whether the issue has ripened to the point of needing legislative remediation; whether the issue might be taken care of in another place, such as the courts or in the federal agencies – all of these variables and more factor into whether a bill has a serious chance of passage. Here are a few bills we think are going to change policies on technology and innovation and shape industries during the 111th Congress:
S. 773 and S. 778
Cyberspace Security Act of 2009
- S. 773 originally was introduced by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Rockefeller April 1st, 2009
- Additional legislation was drafted in the Senate Homeland Security Committee
- Substitute Amendment for S. 773 was made public March 2010. The combined S. 773 and S. 778 are billed as the comprehensive Rockefeller-Snowe cybersecurity legislation
- Bills would create a Senate-confirmed National Cybersecurity Advisor and raise the priority of cybersecurity throughout the federal government by promoting research and development of innovative cybersecurity solutions in partnership with private sector
- Significant impact on SmartGrid technology and privacy policies
S. 515
Patent Reform Act of 2009
- Introduced by Senator Leahy, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and reported out of Committee in Spring 2009; is Committee's third recent attempt to update the current patent system
- After input from pharmaceutical and technology companies, Senator Leahy made public proposed new language in March 2010
- Many tech companies do not support the new proposal, arguing that damage award system needs further reform in order for innovation to thrive
- As Chairman Leahy seeks floor time for a vote in the Senate on his new language, focus shifts to the House Judiciary Committee where proposal will be taken up
H.R. 3125
Radio Spectrum Inventory Act
- Creates a process for surveying and mapping use of the nation's spectrum infrastructure by federal and non-federal users
- Significant impact on government's ability to free spectrum for broadband deployment and innovation; integral to Federal Communication Commission's National Broadband Plan released March 2010
- Obama administration requested changes to the original bill to protect federal users of spectrum when reporting of spectrum use data would be harmful to national security
- Chairman's substitute bill passed full House Energy and Commerce Committee during March 10th, 2010 markup
H.R. 3019
Spectrum Relocation Improvement Act
- Introduced by Representatives Inslee (D-WA-1st) and Upton (R-MI-6th)
- Requires NTIA to post details about transition of spectrum from federal to nonfederal use; requires federal entities to complete spectrum relocation within one year of receiving relocation payments
- Passed full House Energy and Commerce Committee during March 10th, 2010 markup
- Obama administration has expressed concerns about agencies having resources needed to fulfill Act's requirements
H.R. 848
Performance Rights Act
- Would amend federal copyright law to change amount broadcasters pay performers for sound recordings
- Approved in key House Committee vote 21-9 May 13th, 2009
- 46 Co-sponsors as of March 2010
S. Con. Res. 14
Concurrent Resolution supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act
- Declares that Congress should not impose any new charge relating to public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station
- Referred to Senate Commerce Committee; 26 cosponsors as of March 2010
- S. 379, the Senate version of the Performance Rights Act, was passed out of the Judiciary Committee October 15th, 2009
H.R. 2221
Data Accountability and Trust Act
- Requires FTC to promulgate regulations to secure computerized data containing personal information
- Hearing held on May 5th, 2009, House Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection
- Joint hearing held June 18th, 2009 with House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
- Bipartisan manager’s amendment (substitute) introduced in Committee at markup
- Passed House December 8, 2009; pending in Senate Commerce Committee
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