GOP Defections Prompt House Leaders to Pull American Broadband Deployment Act Vote
House leadership abruptly pulled the American Broadband Deployment Act (HR-2289) from floor consideration Monday afternoon after it became clear that not enough Republicans supported it to guarantee passage, several lobbyists told us. The House Rules Committee's website said it "postponed" plans to consider HR-2289, which would have set up floor debate on the measure and determined whether the panel would allow votes on what lobbyists expected to be numerous largely Democratic amendments (see 2604170084).
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Several lobbyists and officials who support and oppose HR-2289 said enough Republicans had outright told House leadership that they would vote against the bill to endanger its floor passage. HR-2289 backers had been counting on near-universal House Republican support, given expectations that almost all Democrats would likely oppose it. The House Commerce Committee in December advanced the measure, which combined language from 22 GOP connectivity permitting bills, on a narrow 26-24 party-line vote (see 2512030031).
Lobbyists pointed to three House Republicans who were definite no votes on HR-2289: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Ronny Jackson of Texas and Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Reps. Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Chris Smith of New Jersey were among others who were leaning against the bill, lobbyists said.
Best Best localities lawyer Gerry Lederer noted chatter that 20 House GOP lawmakers expressed reservations about HR-2289 during a recent Republican caucus meeting. Others described a “handful” of defections, which was enough to scuttle the bill for now. Lobbyists viewed Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey as a potential lone Democratic yes vote, but that wouldn’t have been enough to offset GOP opposition.
No 'Complacency'
Lederer and Mike Lynch, legislative director for the National Association of Telecom Officers and Advisors, were among HR-2289 opponents who celebrated Monday. Lederer argued that House GOP leaders pulled the bill to protect Republican incumbents who face tight races in the November midterm elections from casting a vote that could harm their relations with local governments.
There are “too many [GOP] members who believe in local government” for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to ask them to limit those entities’ role in granting connectivity projects, Lederer told us.
“We’re happy that the cities, towns and counties all won out” in this round of the HR-2289 debate, Lynch said. He attributed the postponement to his group's efforts last week with the National League of Cities, U.S. Conference of Mayors and National Association of Counties to object to the bill and their work over the weekend to “buttonhole” lawmakers to oppose considering it this week. “It worked out well for us,” Lynch said.
Lederer and Lynch also said HR-2289 opponents will “continue to be vigilant” for the potential of additional attempts to bring the bill to the floor. “I don’t see anyone in local government taking their eye off the ball,” Lederer said. “That could lull you into complacency that ends up costing you late one night.”
Evan Swarztrauber, a senior fellow at the Digital Progress Institute, told us it’s “disappointing” that House leaders needed to pull HR-2289 from the floor, but they shouldn’t discount trying to bring it back up in this Congress. “We need permitting reforms,” particularly to ensure that NTIA’s $42.5 billion BEAD program succeeds in maximizing connectivity across the U.S., Swarztrauber said. He argued that rolling out those funds without lifting unnecessary barriers would hinder Congress’ intent when lawmakers enacted BEAD as part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Other Bills Pass
Also on Monday, the House passed the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act (HR-7386) on a voice vote, despite vocal opposition from the Fraternal Order of Police and some other public-safety groups (see 2603250055). The measure would renew FirstNet’s mandate through Sept. 30, 2037. It proposes creating an associate NTIA administrator to “manage [FirstNet] staff and operations” and requires FirstNet to provide lawmakers with “any contract” between the authority and its contractors.
HR-7386 would give FirstNet “the long-term certainty it needs to continue investing in our nation's safety,” said its lead sponsor, Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla. “When every second counts, when innocent lives are on the line, the question of whether or not first responders can communicate with one another should never be in doubt.” Rep. Jennifer McClellan of Virginia, the bill's lead Democratic co-sponsor, House Communications Subcommittee Vice Chairman Rick Allen, R-Ga., and Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., backed it on the floor as well.
The House also passed the Mystic Alerts Act (HR-7022) on a voice vote and appeared poised to do the same with the Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act (HR-1681). HR-7022 would require the FCC to pursue technical regulations for satellite-transmitted emergency alerts. HR-1681 would direct NTIA to lead an interagency strike force to prioritize reviews for requests to deploy infrastructure on federal land.
Other bills on the House docket include the Senate-approved Rural Broadband Protection Act (S-98), Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act (HR-1343), Emergency Reporting Act (HR-5200) and Kari’s Law Reporting Act (HR-5201).