Congress could move a step closer to rejecting the Federal Communications Commission’s plan to regulate the Internet this week when the Senate considers a resolution targeting the agency’s net neutrality rule.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) introduced the measure, S.J. Res. 6, to halt the FCC from implementing the regulation. The Congressional Review Act gives lawmakers the authority to overrule regulations from government agencies.
Hutchison’s resolution simply states: “That Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to the matter of preserving the open Internet and broadband industry practices (Report and Order FCC 10–201, adopted by the Commission on December 21, 2010), and such rule shall have no force or effect.”
Republicans will need to win at least four Democratic votes in order for the resolution to pass the Senate; it needs a simple majority. The U.S. House approved the resolution, H.J. Res. 37, on April 8 by a vote of 240-179.
Speaking last week at Heritage’s Bloggers Briefing, Hutchison criticized federal bureaucrats for interfering with the Internet, an engine of economic growth. “There is no need for us to mess around with that kind of success,” she said. “It is a success, and it doesn’t need fixing.”
Below is video of Hutchison’s appearance at The Bloggers Briefing on Nov. 1.
