Technology

Lawmakers Push to Block Warrantless Email, Data Harvest

| Posted in In the News

Congressional privacy advocates want to block government officials from seizing Americans’ emails and geolocation data without warrants – and they’re optimistic about their chances of scoring a win. Authorities currently can take emails older than 180 days without a warrant, and police departments across the country increasingly are snatching cellphone location…

Lawmakers introduce bipartisan privacy reform legislation

| Posted in Press Releases

Lawmakers introduced bipartisan legislation today updating a decades old communications privacy law to better shield Internet users and wireless subscribers from overly broad government surveillance programs. The Online Communications and Geolocation Protection Act, introduced by U.S. Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Ted Poe (R- Texas), and Suzan DelBene (D- Wash.), modernizes the 1986…

IoT comes to D.C.: DelBene and Issa form Congressional Caucus on the Internet of Things

| Posted in In the News

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week, nearly everywhere you turned people were talking about the Internet of Things or IoT. Now, the idea behind these connected devices — everything from smart cars to smart washing machines — is making its way to D.C. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) and Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA)  today announced the formation…

Congresswoman DelBene Applauds FCC Vote to Increase Funding for Internet Access and Wi-Fi in Schools

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) commended the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for voting to permanently increase the funding cap of the federal E-rate program by $1.5 billion per year. To ensure that sufficient funding is available for schools and libraries to deploy higher Internet speeds and Wi-Fi in every classroom over the next five years, the FCC voted today to…

DelBene Statement on FCC Chairmans Proposal to Increase Funding for Internet Access in Schools and Libraries

| Posted in Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene released the following statement on today’s draft order from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler to permanently increase the funding cap of the federal E-rate program, which has provided vital assistance to schools and libraries with the cost of telecommunications and Internet services since 1997: “Today’s…

DelBene Statement on Whatcom Co. Decision to Deny Controversial Radio Towers in Point Roberts

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene welcomed the announcement from a Whatcom County hearing examiner that they have rejected a controversial BBC Broadcasting Inc. proposal to erect 150-foot radio transmission towers in Point Roberts. “Point Roberts citizens’ voices were heard, and this is the right decision by the hearing examiner,” said Congresswoman DelBene. …

DelBene Statement on Release of Improved USA Freedom Act

| Posted in Press Releases

House Judiciary Committee Member Suzan DelBene issued the following statement today after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy introduced a new version of the USA Freedom Act: “I am pleased that the version of the USA Freedom Act introduced today includes important improvements to the House-passed USA Freedom Act, and I commend Senator Leahy’s efforts to…

DelBene Statement on Supreme Courts Decision Against Warrantless Searches of Cellphones

| Posted in Press Releases

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court today ruled that police need search warrants to search cellphones. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene issued the following statement: “Technology has changed the way we live, communicate and do business, but what should not change is our basic liberties and protections under the Constitution. Today’s decision by the Supreme Court requiring…

DelBene Statement on FCC Chairmans Proposal to Improve Internet Access and Wi-Fi in Schools and Libraries

| Posted in Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene released the following statement reacting to today’s draft order from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler to update the federal E-rate program, which has provided critical discounts for schools and libraries for telecommunications and Internet services since its enactment in 1997: “Ensuring that every child in the U.S. has…

DelBene Statement on House Floor Vote of Watered-down Version of USA Freedom Act

| Posted in Press Releases

Today Congresswoman Suzan DelBene issued the following statement after voting against a modified version of the USA Freedom Act: “The NSA surveillance bill that the House leadership put before a vote today is a weakened, watered-down version of the USA Freedom Act that I originally cosponsored. “The truth is today’s bill falls short of clearly guaranteeing that…