Sheila Jackson Lee: “I am offering this amendment on behalf of Congresswoman Sewell and myself. Once again, I wish to thank the Chair and…”

“I am offering this amendment on behalf of Congresswoman Sewell and myself. Once again, I wish to thank the Chair and Ranking Member of the Rules Committee for making this Amendment in order. I thank the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster and Ranking Member Peter A. DeFazio for their bipartisan work to bring the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act to the floor. This Jackson Lee/Sewell Amendment provides a report to Congress from the Secretary of the Department of Transportation on the ``Internet of Things'' (IoT) and its potential to improve transportation services to the elderly and persons with disabilities as well as assist local, state and federal transportation planners in achieving better inefficiencies and cost effectiveness, while protecting privacy and security of persons who use IoT technology. The IoT refers to the wireless environment that will support networking of physical objects or ``things'' embedded with wireless electronic components, software, sensors, and network connectivity technology, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data on people, places and things. The IoT will introduce the functionality of computing into physical space as computing technology is integrated into devices and systems. It will also challenge the privacy and security of users of the technology if precautions are not taken to ensure that information on these devices is not protected.…”