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Source: Congress.gov
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All right. Thank you. All right, I'll use this one. Thank you for being here for our first legislative markup for the 119th Congress. This committee has a rich bipartisan history, which will continue in that spirit. with the bills we've worked together on today. And each of these bipartisan pieces of legislation, each of these pieces of legislation was passed by the House last Congress. And I'm proud that we'll be moving these forward. And I think specifically unless you're a freshman member, you either voted for these in committee as they are with maybe technical changes or on the floor, except for the freshmen. We must make sure that government stands ready to partner with innovators to continue promoting technological advancement One bill proposed today will help improve wireless service for farmers utilizing precision agriculture. Another will work to improve American cybersecurity and protect our networks from bad actors. Together, these bills can help to prepare our infrastructure to withstand cyber threats, while also ensuring our wireless infrastructure is calibrated to the needs of the 21st century. I thank the sponsors for their leadership. and continue work getting the bills across the finish line. We'll also be continuing our work to shore up America's supply chains and secure our critical infrastructure. Our adversaries are constantly launching threats to our supply chains, especially in critical industries, emphasizing the need for greater resiliency. Legislation like the Global Investment in American Jobs Act will help attract more investment in the United States, supporting our American workers. Bolstering American manufacturing and reducing our reliance on China should be priorities for us all, and I look forward to advancing legislation to do that. Next, we will consider legislation to protect Americans from potentially dangerous products and technologies. The Awning Safety Act of 2025 will instruct the CPSC to create a safety standard for fixed freestanding awnings in memory of Dr. Michael Nat who tragically lost his life in an awning accident.
I again want to thank all the sponsors and advocates who helped us make this legislation the best it can be. I always say the work we do here in the House affects people in their homes, and I think that is on display with the legislation we are considering today. We have a lot more work to do this Congress, but I'm proud that we are able to start with this bipartisan legislation that unites this committee in securing American leadership and eliminating unnecessary risks to people's safety. I thank you all for the work. and I thank everybody for working together, and I look forward to advancing these bills to the full House, and I will yield back my time, and I now recognize the gentleman from New Jersey, Representative Pallone, for five minutes for an opening statement. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today, the committee, as you said, is marking up 12 bills that passed out this committee in the full House last Congress with strong bipartisan support.
And I support all these bills and hope that we can get them to the House floor soon. But I wanted to particularly discuss one bill, the Awning Safety Act, which would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to create a mandatory safety standard for fixed and freestanding retractable awnings. Today, there is no standard, voluntary or mandatory, for these awnings, and injuries continue to mount. So two years ago, Dr. Michael Knatt, the father of five, including a former Energy and Commerce Committee staff member, tragically died as a result of an incident involving a retractable awning. And we have to ensure that other American families do not suffer the same fate because of the problems with retractable awnings. So I just wanted to mention that. And thank you again, Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
Well, I guess I better turn this mic up here. The gentleman yields back. The chair reminds members that pursuant to the committee rules, all members' opening statements were made part of the record. Are there further opening statements? Are there further opening statements? Seeing none, now recognize, I'm sorry, the chair calls up HR 1618 and asks the clerk to report. HR 1618, a bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to review certain rules of the commission
U
Unknown (SPEAKER_08)
and develop recommendations for rule changes to promote precision agriculture. Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with, and the bill will be open for amendment at any time so ordered. Does anyone seek to be recognized on the bill? Mr. Chairman? Yes. Write the last word.
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