FUTURE Networks Act

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2449, the FUTURE Networks Act. This bipartisan legislation is an important step to protect Americans and our communication networks from threats posed by rapidly evolving next-generation technologies. It also ensures that the standards used to build technological advancements are designed from the start to be safe and secure.

H.R. 2449 establishes a task force at the Federal Communications Commission to study sixth-generation, or 6G, technologies to identify potential supply chain and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The task force will include government, public interest advocates, academics, and industry.

The United States leads the world in the innovation of secure and resilient next-generation technologies, a position congressional Democrats have fought hard to sustain. Among other things, House Democrats have worked to increase the safety of our networks and supply chains by examining the security of mobile networks and educate consumers about cybersecurity vulnerabilities and risks. The FUTURE Networks Act is yet another important step to support America's leadership in a secure and reliable future.

By directing the FCC to engage in the exploration of 6G technology in the early stages of development, the FUTURE Networks Act will enable American values to be embedded within the global framework for this technology and to ensure it will be available to all Americans.

I thank Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Matsui and Representatives Allen and Walberg for their bipartisan work on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2449, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), the ranking member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 2449, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Dingell for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the FUTURE Networks Act, and I thank Representatives Allen and Walberg for our joint effort in making this a very bipartisan bill.

I introduced this bill to ensure America continues our leadership and standard setting in the global technology race.

Mr. Speaker, 6G is going to be a global evolution in the way we communicate. If we lead the race for next-generation wireless, then this global technology will be based on our values, democracy, open markets, and transparency.

If we fall behind, our foreign adversaries will have a new way to expand their reach. That means less openness, less security, and more top-down control.

This risk is real. Already, China is leading in the 6G patent race, filing about 35 percent of patents globally.

To stay the global leader, America must invest in innovation and convene our best and brightest to map the road ahead.

This is increasingly true as artificial intelligence redefines our society and drives rapid change, including in our communications infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, 6G networks will leverage AI to meet the connectivity demand of American consumers and businesses. Mr. Speaker, 6G also can support smart cities and supercharge augmented reality applications for education, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Given such transformative potential, we must be proactive and make sure America sets the gold standard for this next-generation technology. That is why I am so glad to see this bipartisan bill moving forward today.

The FUTURE Networks Act ensures our brightest minds in industry, government, and academia are collaborating on the strategically vital development of 6G. The race to 6G is not just about faster phones; it is about national security, the economy, and America's standing on the world stage.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of suspending the rules and passing this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2449) to direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a task force to be known as the ``6G Task Force'', and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 2449, the FUTURE Networks Act led by Representative Matsui and Representative Allen.

United States leadership in 6G technology is critical for both our economic and national security.

This bill would direct the FCC to establish a 6G Task Force made up of both public and private-sector participants to develop a report on the standards development process and possible uses of sixth-generation technology. This task force will ensure that the United States has a unified position to cement our leadership in 6G, which is so critical.

This legislation has strong bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen.)

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

I commend Representative Allen, the vice chair of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee; Representative Matsui, the ranking member; and also my good friend, Mr. Walberg, for this very important bill. I encourage Members to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Florida, Mr. Bilirakis, for yielding.

As vice chairman of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, I rise today in support of the bipartisan FUTURE Networks Act, which I proudly introduced with my colleagues, Representative Matsui and Representative Walberg.

This commonsense legislation would direct the FCC to bring together industry leaders, public interest groups, and government experts to establish a 6G Task Force.

As we all know, 6G is the future of telecommunications, and we must ensure that the United States is a global leader in this emerging technology. Failure to do so would put our adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party, in the driver's seat. We cannot allow that to happen.

I come from the world of business and just like in business we want the best, most qualified individuals to have a seat at the table. By establishing a 6G Task Force, we can bring together America's brightest industry leaders, stakeholders, and innovators to collaborate on the future deployment of 6G and strengthening our wireless networks.

This is a matter of economic and national security. I was proud to help lead the FUTURE Networks Act this Congress. I strongly encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2449.