I just want to point out that the problem in rural America is way bigger than those efforts.

That's why I am proud to support Ranking Member Pallone's Lift America Act which would dedicate $40 billion to building out broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved parts of the country.

It will take $40 billion to build out 98 percent of the country.

The majority cannot claim that it values privacy when one of its signature achievements this Congress is the repeal of these meaningful rules.

It was recently revealed that our nation's top wireless carrier shared real-time location data of hundreds of millions of Americans with third parties without consumers' consent.

I would respectfully request that this committee hold a hearing on this incident to understand how it happened and to hold the responsible parties accountable.

We can and must do more to protect American's privacy and sensitive information.

Facebook demonstrated all too well that after-the-fact-enforcement authority can't help us when the damage has already been done.

We in Congress and on this committee need to take that to heart as we are addressing this pressing issue.

That's why Ranking Member Doyle and I sent a letter to the Commissioners yesterday urging them not to limit the ability of FCC staff to help resolve consumers' complaints.

Digital privacy in our modern era has never been more important.

Make no mistake, the bill before us today is a rural broadband bill, and a very important one at that.

But with the level of consensus we have here on our vision of NTIA's leadership on rural broadband, that would be a real shame, and I don't intend for it to happen.

I'm deeply concerned that without participation from representatives of the agency itself we will not be fully able to understand the needs of the agency.

I support this agency and I support giving this agency more resources to accomplish its many missions.

We know that without Federal involvement, rural areas will continue to be left behind.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration plays the critical role of advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues.

The Airwaves Act...further this mission by freeing up additional federal spectrum for commercial use.

I am not sure why we are here today to discuss a bill that passed 6 months ago.

This is kind of an odd hearing for the Energy and Commerce Committee to be having.

I notice you did finally put out a study that shows State by State. For instance, in my State of Pennsylvania the average tax cut to the bottom 80 percent of families--80 percent we are talking about--is around $645.

This is little dog and pony show for a bill that most of the American public doesn't support.

Pittsburgh is home to three rivers--the Allegheny, the Monongahela, and the Ohio, and utilizing these water resources is incredibly important, and hydropower plays a critical role in our renewable energy portfolio.

Do you support States' ability to properly account for these attributes?

I want to thank my colleague, Congressman Adam Kinzinger, for his leadership introducing H.R. 1320, the NUKE Act.