House Panel Rejects Net Neutrality

In a hearing that spanned more than six hours, a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee voted to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) net neutrality order.  The Committee passed the resolution (H.J. Res 37) on a party-line vote, 15-8, sending the measure one step closer to the President’s desk.

Chairman Walden and House Republicans employed the little known Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows for Congressional disapproval of agency action, nullifying the FCC’s net neutrality rule.  Any future FCC attempt at regulating the Internet would likely be illegal.

Under the rules of the resolution, only a simple majority in each chamber is required; the Senate may not filibuster the measure, and it is not subject to amendment.

Although the explicit language of the CRA precludes amending a resolution of disapproval, Democrats spent close to an hour of Committee time introducing six amendments that were promptly ruled “not in order.”

If both Houses pass the resolution disapproving of net neutrality, the measure would land on President Obama’s desk, likely forcing a public veto. This, in spite of several studies that have shown intrusive government regulation of the Internet could cost hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Click here or here for the Forum’s previous work on net neutrality and the Congressional Review Act.