Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I would like to start today by congratulating him on taking the reins of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. That subcommittee is a critical part of the Energy and Commerce Committee and serves an important role for Congress as a whole. Congresswoman Eshoo left big shoes to fill, but I am confident that, with Ranking Member Doyle and his longtime expertise in this area, the subcommittee is in capable hands. I also thank our colleague from Tennessee, who is now the chairwoman of the subcommittee. The gentlewoman basically summarized what I was going to say about this bill, so I will try not to be too repetitive. But I do want to ask support for my bill, H.R. 588, the Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act, or SANDy Act. Superstorm Sandy had a traumatic effect on my district back in New Jersey, and we saw firsthand how critical communication networks can be damaged during emergencies. Broadcast and cable networks provide crucial information that helps us stay out of harm's way, and phone and Internet access makes sure we can call for help and keep track of our loved ones. Unfortunately, when Sandy ripped through the Northeast, many of these networks went down when we needed them most. Across the region, nearly 1 in 4 cell towers were knocked out. But in some of the hardest-hit areas of New Jersey, as many as half of the towers were actually down. Many of them stayed down for weeks.…”