Lofgren Decries Lack of Net Neutrality Protection in COPE Act
Media Contact: Kyra Jennings, 202.225.3072, kyra.jennings@mail.house.gov
Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5252, the COPE Act by 321:101, while voting down the Markey amendment -- which would have protected net neutrality -- by a vote of 152:269. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) spoke in favor of net neutrality provisions on the House floor, and offered the following statement criticizing last night’s vote:
“I am extremely disappointed that the House voted for the COPE Act without any essential net neutrality protection. By blocking the Markey Amendment, the Republican Congress has allowed ¥the pipes’ to control content in a way that goes directly against the level playing field and innovative spirit created by the Internet,” said Rep. Lofgren. “Because no net neutrality provisions were adopted, the broadband duopolies and monopolies will be able to turn the Internet into the equivalent of cable television. I hope the U.S. Senate will stand up for freedom and, unlike the House, insist on net neutrality to save the Internet as we know it.”
Rep. Lofgren helped to lead the net neutrality fight in the House, and introduced H.R. 5417 in the House Judiciary Committee with Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), and Reps. John Conyers (D-MI) and Rick Boucher (D-VA). This bill would amend the Clayton Act to protect net neutrality under existing antitrust laws. The House Rules Committee voted against allowing this bipartisan legislation to be debated on the floor as an amendment to the COPE Act.
