Patrick Leahy: “during the final days of this session, which have stretched over weeks and months, we have been struggling to pass a…”

“during the final days of this session, which have stretched over weeks and months, we have been struggling to pass a number of important and uncontroversial bills, but we have met with what some would call obstructionism from the Republican side of the aisle. Enactment of legislation needed for e-911 provisions to provide critical resources to our first responders, the Universal Service Administrative Corporation, a spectrum relocation trust fund, junk fax legislation, as well as the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act, anticounterfeiting legislation, film preservation legislation and many other measures have been sidetracked and hijacked. The Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell has spoken out urging enactment of these needed telecommunications bills. The telecommunications package contains critically important provisions that will enhance 911 service, allow spectrum relocation, and preserve the ability of the universal service fund to do its important work. These are not controversial or partisan provisions. We should do all we can to ensure that first responders can provide their essential public services and that includes e-911. The spectrum relocation trust fund will free more space for wireless broadband services. This will help the American economy by promoting jobs and education.”