Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. I, first of all, want to thank our chairman, Ed Royce, from California. He has worked very, very hard on this bill for a long, long time, so I am very pleased to support this bill that he has introduced to help expand access to the Internet around the world. I know how strongly he feels about it. We all share his goal, but he was the impetus, obviously, for this bill, and this is really a good bill. Mr. Speaker, a generation ago, few could have envisioned the way the Internet would open up new gateways for information, connect people around the world, and change the global economy. Today, a classroom with broadband access gives students a window to the rest of the world, allowing them to build relationships face-to- face with people thousands and thousands of miles away. A relief worker with a smartphone can relay information in an instant about where help and resources are needed to deal with a crisis. A farmer with a laptop can make sure his or her produce is fetching a fair price on the global market. A journalist in a closed society who can get online can shine a light on abuses and corruption. And while we know this tool can be used for harm, such as the way ISIS uses social media to recruit fighters and spread propaganda, we also know that, in the right hands, the Internet expands opportunity, drives growth, and makes people's lives fuller and more productive.…”