Rick Allen: “I rise in the matter of Internet taxes. As you and others across this country who are following this issue very closely…”

“I rise in the matter of Internet taxes. As you and others across this country who are following this issue very closely well know, the 3-year moratorium on access taxes as well as the 3-year moratorium on discriminatory taxes on the Internet that had been passed by the Senate and the House 3 years ago expired on Sunday, October 21--just a couple of days ago. The Internet is important to our economy. The taxes that could be imposed on the Internet would be harmful to the economy. It would be harmful to technology. I think it would be very harmful especially to lower-income families and thereby widen the digital divide. In my view, there is no time to dawdle; there is no time for conference committees. So I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to the consideration of H.R. 1552, the House-passed 2-year clean extension of the Internet access tax moratorium currently being held at the desk, and that it be considered, read three times, and passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.”