Frank Pallone

Obviously, in addressing the panel, I have to say it, express my concern that the Federal response so far is nowhere near where it needs to be.

This is a humanitarian crisis, and our Government owes it to the citizens in these Territories to do everything it can to fix it.

The central question for us today should be, why is it taking so long to restore power in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and who is actually in charge of the effort to restore power to Puerto Rico?

The truth is that, taken together, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are currently experiencing the largest blackout in American history, and this nightmare for our fellow citizens is far from over.

But you stated in your testimony that DOE is leveraging the National Labs to develop long-term solutions to improve resiliency.

We have heard varying reports as to how long it will take to restore power to the citizens of Puerto Rico.

Reports indicate nearly 70 percent of Americans on the island are without electricity.

The Federal Government needs to step up and take charge to expedite power restoration efforts.

I am also troubled by the maze of contracts with numerous companies for overlapping missions, a patchwork that is failing to turn the lights back on in Puerto Rico.

Unfortunately, the FCC is working to undo these protections at the behest of a few large corporations.

Keeping these rules in place is the fastest and surest way to protect consumers.

The FCC's current net neutrality protections provide the strongest protections for free speech and innovation online and have been upheld by the court.

Consumers deserve a Federal backstop when that data is compromised.

That is absolutely unacceptable.

The bill that Ranking Member Schakowsky and I introduced, the Secure and Protect Americans' Data Act, would close some of those holes.

Equifax says that it is, and I quote, 'taking responsibility for its failures,' but Equifax is only providing victims with protections for 1 year.

I hope the committee will focus on how the practices of the credit reporting and data collection industries affect consumers.

Our subcommittee has been bipartisan in demanding answers for breach victims. We should now be bipartisan in pursuing action.

I expect the industry to engage with these ideas, given the problems consumers face.

This market is failing American consumers, and that is why Congress and consumer watchdogs must step in.

Equifax is only providing victims with protections for 1 year. It refuses to give people meaningful control over how Equifax shares and sells the personal information that it collects.

You and I are not their customers. We are the product.

I have said many times, and I think I have told some of the Commission members, that I remember earlier this year when Sean Spicer was at a press conference and he said that the President would have the FCC repeal net neutrality before the…

It is curious that this hearing is scheduled for today in particular, just one day before Chairman Pai is expected to make public at least one proposal that enriches a single company above others.

Congressional oversight is especially important now because the FCC is on a path to take up a number of controversial issues.