Current lobbyists and former House Commerce Committee chairmen Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said Wednesday that lawmakers “must again ask tough questions [about] whether FirstNet is fully achieving the goals we put into law in 2012” as Congress eyes reauthorizing it before the existing mandate expires in February 2027. The House Communications Subcommittee examined FirstNet and other public safety communications matters during a hearing earlier this month (see 2509090062).

House Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia of California and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee ranking member Maxwell Frost of Florida on Wednesday expanded panel Democrats’ investigation into ABC's temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! (see 2509180055) to also probe why Nexstar Media Group is continuing to preempt the show following its return to air. The committee Democrats’ investigation already also included Sinclair, which continues to preempt Kimmel as well (see 2509230051). Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and three other Democratic senators pressed Nexstar and Sinclair earlier this week on the matter.

The American Telemedicine Association urged Congress on Monday to commit to retroactive reimbursement of telehealth spending if federal appropriations lapse when FY 2025 funding expires Sept. 30. The Senate failed to pass either of two dueling continuing resolutions Friday aimed at extending federal appropriations, and both chambers of Congress are set to reconvene only on Sept. 29 (see 2509190061).

The Senate recessed Friday without agreeing on a continuing resolution to extend federal appropriations past Sept. 30 after the chamber failed to invoke cloture on either Republicans’ House-passed CR to keep the government open until Nov. 21 (HR-5371) or Democrats’ counteroffer (S-2882), which would extend funding through Oct. 31 and restore CPB's $535 million in rescinded FY 2026 funding (see 2509180033). The Senate voted 44-48 on HR-5371 and 47-45 on S-2882. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters that the chamber is unlikely to reconvene until Sept. 29, leaving less than two days until FY 2025 funding expires. “Eventually, it's going to be an up or down vote on whether [Democrats] want to keep the government open,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both D-N.Y., released a new proposed continuing resolution Wednesday night that would extend federal appropriations past Sept. 30 and restore CPB's $535 million in rescinded FY 2026 funding. The Senate and House Appropriations committees already advanced versions of their Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies subcommittees’ FY26 bills that don't include CPB (see 2507310062 and 2509100065).

Consumer Technology Association CEO Gary Shapiro said Thursday that he opposes a House Commerce Committee-cleared version of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-979) despite revisions aimed at curbing opposition from the automotive industry (see 2509170068). HR-979 and its companion, S-315 -- which the Senate Commerce Committee advanced previously -- would require the Department of Transportation to mandate that future automobiles include AM radio technology, mostly affecting electric vehicles (see 2502100072).

The House passed the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act (HR-1107) Monday on a voice vote. The refiled measure would permanently extend a temporary exemption first enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic that allows Department of Veterans Affairs health care professionals to use telehealth services to prescribe medically necessary controlled substances to veterans under certain conditions.

The House Commerce Committee said Monday night that it plans to vote Wednesday on the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-979/S-315), as expected (see 2508080005). The bill would require the Department of Transportation to mandate that future automobiles include AM radio technology, mostly affecting electric vehicles. The Senate Commerce Committee advanced S-315 in February (see 2502100072). The bill’s supporters unsuccessfully tried to attach it to a December continuing resolution to extend federal appropriations (see Ref:2412180033]). House Commerce’s meeting Wednesday, which will also consider six other bills, will begin at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn.

The House was set to vote as soon as Monday night under suspension of the rules to pass the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act (HR-1107). The refiled measure would permanently extend a temporary exemption, first enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, to let Department of Veterans Affairs health care professionals use telehealth services to prescribe medically necessary controlled substances to veterans under certain conditions. Lawmakers have also long supported proposals to make permanent waivers allowing Medicare beneficiaries to use that money on telehealth services (see 2008170064).

The House Communications Subcommittee plans a hearing Thursday on 29 bills aimed at streamlining broadband permitting rules, many of which Republicans have filed in past Congresses and some they previously combined into the controversial American Broadband Deployment Act (see 2305240069). The hearing will begin at 2 p.m. in 2123 Rayburn.