Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) said Wednesday he intends to launch a discharge petition in an effort to force a House vote on reinstating the…
Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) said Wednesday he intends to launch a discharge petition in an effort to force a House vote on reinstating the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) net neutrality rules.
“It’s about protecting small businesses, students, innovators, entrepreneurs and competition. These are the policies that every American benefits from and it enables our modern economy,” Doyle said at a press conference after the Senate passed a bill reinstating net neutrality.
“That’s why I have introduced companion (Congressional Review Act) in the House and I’m going to continue to work with the leadership in the House to bring this to the floor,” he added.
Congressional Review Act (CRA) bills allow Congress to overturn agency decisions with majority votes in each chamber, and a signature from the president.
In addition to the CRA, Doyle said he intends to launch a discharge petition on Thursday morning. If 25 Republicans and every Democrat in the House sign the petition, it would force a vote.
Doyle urged citizens to phone their lawmaker and encourage them to sign the petition. He said those who don’t support maintaining net neutrality will be held accountable at the polls in November.
At the same press conference, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to bring the CRA to the House floor, urging Republicans to back it.
The Senate version of the bill passed on Wednesday, 52-47. Three Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and John Kennedy (La.) — joined their Democratic colleagues in supporting the bill.
Most Republican lawmakers have downplayed the need for net neutrality rules, arguing it is a case of overregulation.
The FCC voted 3-2 along party lines in December to repeal its Obama-era Open Internet Order.
