NET NEUTRALITY: Senator Murray Joins Colleagues to Formally Introduce Resolution to Restore Net Neutrality and Stop Big Internet Providers from Blocking or Slowing Internet Traffic

President Trump’s FCC voted to repeal net neutrality in December, but Congress could reverse that decision with a Congressional Review Act 

Senator Murray: In the Senate, “we need just one more senator to reject corporate interests and instead stand with the families, workers, small business owners, and students they represent” 

(Washington, D.C.)  – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) today joined 49 of her Senate colleagues, and 150 Democrats in the House, to formally introduce a Congressional Review Act to restore the 2015 Open Internet Order. The move comes after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) formally published its rule to repeal net neutrality in the Federal Register last week, moving ahead with plans to allow internet service providers to throttle or block internet content as they see fit. A Congressional Review Act, or CRA, allows Congress to overturn agency rules within 60 days of being published in the Federal Register with a simple majority vote in each chamber.

In the Senate, the CRA currently has the support of all 47 Senate Democrats, 2 Independents, and one Republican, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). Just one more senator is needed to support the CRA to ensure its passage in the Senate.

“From the moment President Trump’s FCC made its move to repeal net neutrality, it’s been encouraging to see millions of people rising up to demand the internet remain free and open,” Senator Murray said. “Now, we need just one more senator to reject corporate interests and instead stand with the families, workers, small business owners, and students they represent. I urge people across the country to keep up the pressure and remind their elected leaders to get behind the net neutrality CRA because in our increasingly interconnected world, the FCC should be focused on maintaining the principles that have allowed the internet to flourish: consumer choice, innovation, economic opportunity, and the free flow of knowledge.”

Senator Murray, the ranking member of the Senate education committee, led 20 of her Senate colleagues in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai in December, urging him to postpone the vote on net neutrality until the FCC could analyze the impacts of this action on students and schools. The FCC went ahead with its vote the following day.

A copy of the CRA resolution can be found HERE.