House Considers 6 Tech-Focused Amendments to FY23 FCC, FTC Funding Bill
The House was in the process of voting Tuesday on six tech-focused amendments (see 2207140070) to the FY 2023 omnibus appropriations package that includes funding for the FCC, FTC and Agriculture Department rural broadband programs (HR-8294) that the Rules Committee…
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allowed for floor consideration Monday. The House voted 229-199 against three amendments in an en bloc package aimed at cutting down overall funding levels drawn from the House Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee’s bill. The measure proposes giving the FCC $390 million and the FTC $490 million (see 2206270061). Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., sought a 22% trim; Reps. Rick Allen, R-Ga., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., separately proposed 5% cuts. Lawmakers still needed to vote on a proposal from Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis., to bar FTC funding from being used to promulgate rules defining or describing unfair methods of competition under the FTC Act. Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., was also expecting a vote on his amendment to encourage the FTC to continue using its existing authority to protect consumers’ right to repair and hold accountable companies who engage in the anti-competitive conduct of limiting repairs by consumers.