NE Washington News

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has advanced 20 legislative bills to the full House of Representatives. This includes measures aimed at enhancing online safety, consumer protection, and economic growth, according to Chairman Brett Guthrie. "Today’s markup featured a variety of bills aiming to bolster our economy, protect Americans’ online safety, and strengthen consumer safety standards," Guthrie said. He expressed appreciation for the efforts of all legislation sponsors, marking these bills as substantial progress for future generations' safety and prosperity.

Key bills forwarded include:

- H.R. 1442, focusing on youth poisoning prevention, passed with a roll call vote of 50 to 1.

- H.R. 973, setting consumer standards for lithium-ion batteries, approved by voice vote.

- H.R. 633, addressing exploitation via deepfakes, cleared by a 49 to 1 roll call vote.

- H.R. 1664, promoting blockchain deployment, passed by voice vote.

- H.R. 2444, aimed at strengthening supply chains, approved by a 50 to 1 roll call vote.

Other significant legislative pieces cover a range of topics, from semiconductor security and transparency in event ticketing, to rural broadband protection and communications security.

During the proceedings, Congressman Gus Bilirakis emphasized the importance of the Transparency In Charges for Key Events Ticketing (TICKET) Act, HR 1402, which aims to "protect consumers and ensure fans can enjoy live events by improving ticket price transparency." Bilirakis highlighted the bill's requirements for upfront ticket pricing, refund assurances, and the prohibition of speculative ticket sales.

Congressman August Pfluger discussed the urgency of the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes On Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act. He called for decisive action against the misuse of AI technologies in creating nonconsensual exploitative images, stating, "This commonsense legislation is simple and should be a no-brainer to support."

Congressman Nick Langworthy highlighted the dangers of substandard lithium-ion batteries, underlining the need for H.R. 973. "The flood of shoddily manufactured lithium-ion batteries into the United States with no serious safety standards has led to deadly fires and explosions," he noted, advocating for safety measures in battery production.

These bills now await the House’s further deliberation and potential approval.