Larry Pressler: “I would like to report to the Senate on the status of the telecommunications bill. On March 23, the Commerce Committee…”

“I would like to report to the Senate on the status of the telecommunications bill. On March 23, the Commerce Committee voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Telecommunications Competition and Deregulation Act of 1995. It is my strongest hope now that we can get this bill up for action on the floor this week, before the recess. The danger in delay is that it could be picked apart by the various interest groups. This bill would be a roadmap for investment for the next 15 years, until the wireless age. There will be an explosion of investment if we pass it. The benefits to consumers will be tremendous. I wish to urge Members of the Senate and the various interests and consumer groups that are lobbying and working on this bill to remember that if we give one group a special consideration, then we have to give it to others. It seems that everybody wants to have a bill. CEO's all say they want a bill; the administration wants a bill. But we will not have a bill unless we have some cooperation and everyone working together. That has been my message. So I do hope we get the telecommunications bill up this week. If not, we will pass it later--but it is far better to act sooner than later. I would implore the various interests in this country which are following this bill to work together. This is the sort of bill that is not on every American citizen's mind every day, but I think it is the most important bill for our country's economy in the Congress today.”