Well, thank you very much, Madam Chair, and thanks for today's hearing.

My hope is that because it is a discussion draft that the majority intends to work with us to move a bipartisan package forward.

It is important that we foster a competitive video marketplace and ensure that all Americans continue to receive access to unbiased local news reports, up-to-the-minute weather updates, and critical information during emergencies.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for holding this Special Order tonight to honor all these individuals that did so much. A lot of people probably watched last week on the evening news and during the day the tornadoes…

This subcommittee has a duty to ensure that local broadcasters retain the ability to invest in infrastructure and programming that keeps all Americans connected to their communities.

I appreciate the subcommittee holding this hearing today and I thank our panel of witnesses for testifying.

For 30 years, Congress has also played a key role in ensuring that rural Americans who are unable to receive an over-the-air broadcast network signal, are able to receive local news and content via direct broadcast satellite services.

It is important for us to examine the state of the video marketplace, but as we approach a potential sixth reauthorization of STELAR, we need to take a hard look at the underlying policy and its relevance today rather than assuming its…

All of us rely on our local broadcasters for news, emergency updates, weather, traffic, community engagement, and local interest programming.

It's important that we foster a competitive video marketplace AND ensure that all Americans continue to receive access to unbiased local news reports, up-to-the-minute weather updates, and critical information during emergencies.

Right now, if you want to go to California in a self-driving car to Nevada, you literally have to change your license plate at the border.