SMART IoT Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6032) to direct the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on the state of the internet-connected devices industry in the United States, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6032, the State of Modern Application, Research, and Trends of IoT Act, or the SMART IoT Act.

Earlier this year, the SMART IoT Act was unanimously approved by the Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee and the full Energy and Commerce Committee.

I would like to thank Chairman Walden for his support of this bipartisan legislation. I also want to thank Representative Welch for his leadership as the original cosponsor of the SMART IoT Act and the many bipartisan members of the Energy and Commerce Committee for cosponsoring this bill.

Representative Welch and I have been working together on these issues for years, including as co-founders of the Internet of Things Working Group in the 114th Congress.

Today marks an important step towards maximizing the full potential of Internet-connected devices, more commonly known as smart devices.

Almost any physical object can be transformed into a smart device with microchips, sensors, and wireless communications. Once transformed, these smart devices connect through a network to share, exchange, and analyze data to gather insights used to solve problems or enable new capabilities.

IoT solutions will benefit consumers and businesses by improving productivity, efficiency, and much more. Whether we are talking about advancements to automobiles that will improve roadway safety and save lives or smart-city applications that will improve services for residents, one thing is clear: We have the chance to benefit from a more connected world.

Because of the vast benefits of IoT, we are seeing significant economic impacts across a number of industries. By 2025, it is projected that the total economic impact of IoT could reach $11.1 trillion. This includes value increases annually of up to $2.5 trillion in the healthcare sector, $2.3 trillion in manufacturing, $300 billion in infrastructure, $100 billion in agriculture, and $50 billion in vehicle use.

To realize these benefits, we must ensure the Government does not get in the way. Throughout numerous meetings over the years, we heard from many stakeholders. What became clear is that it is difficult to know who is doing what, both in the Federal Government and also in the private sector.

A lack of collaboration and dialogue presents the problem of creating unnecessary barriers to innovation and commonsense policy, something we cannot afford to do if we want to unleash the power of IoT in the United States. We must equip ourselves and industry with information about what Federal, public-private, and self-regulatory efforts are in place or under way.

This is why we developed the SMART IoT Act. The SMART IoT Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to create a compendium to answer that very question: Who is doing what? At the Federal level, this is what will help promote interagency discussions and avoid conflicting or duplicative obligations or regulations that may slow innovation and progress.

At the industry level, this will help innovators and businesses know how entities are developing, using, and promoting use of IoT solutions. It will also highlight industry-based efforts to self-regulate and provide all stakeholders with a resource to facilitate communication and information sharing.

The SMART IoT Act is a critical first step to future IoT policy efforts. It provides important information that will foster Federal collaboration and streamline private industry efforts.

We have an obligation to do what we can to promote American competitiveness and technological advancements that benefit Americans in an environment where other countries are trying to overtake the United States in technical innovation.

Mr. Speaker, again I thank Chairman Walden, Representative Welch, and

all of the bipartisan cosponsors of H.R. 6032, the SMART IoT Act. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 6032, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, I urge support of H.R. 6032, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague from Ohio for introducing this legislation and shepherding it through committee and onto the floor.

The SMART IoT, Internet of Things, Act is a product of bipartisan cooperation. As I did during subcommittee markup, I want to thank Chairman Latta and Congressman Welch for their leadership on this issue, going back to the IoT Working Group in the 114th Congress.

This bill will require the Commerce Department to survey the varieties of connected devices available and examine the Federal role in this space. The study conducted under this bill should serve as the foundation for future legislative efforts as we work to ensure that Internet-connected devices are deployed to the benefit of the American consumer.

The SMART IoT Act is being considered under suspension of the rules after committee consideration under regular order. After a series of hearings on the Internet of things, Republican and Democratic staff worked together on a discussion draft of the bill.

Earlier this year, we held a legislative hearing where we heard testimony from the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Chamber of Commerce, and Intel. That hearing raised several issues that we should continue to examine; including privacy, security, and safety. We are leaving major consumer protection issues unresolved in this area and other areas.

Earlier this month, in Chicago, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the passage of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which included provisions that I worked on to include and improve the safety of children's toys. Advocates there discussed how more work needs to be done to ensure that children's toys are safe.

Someone mentioned how smart toys are becoming more and more available, and questions were raised: Are these smart toys able now to track our kids and where they are? So, the technologies have changed the safety of toys, and we have to be sure that we are looking at that.

Our anger over misuse of consumer data has been bipartisan, but we have not yet come together on solutions. I am hopeful that we will be able to change that in the coming months.

As many Members of this body are aware, I have introduced the Secure and Protect America's Data Act, which I believe is a good starting point to begin discussion.

I continue to urge my Republican colleagues to bring their ideas to the table so we can work together to find common ground. American consumers deserve action.

For now, I am pleased to move forward on legislation where we have reached consensus like this. I look forward to continuing our cooperation on this legislation as it moves to full committee in the weeks ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), and I ask unanimous consent that she may control that time.