This article was published on November 29, 2012

Congressional shuffle: Here are the new key Congresspeople on tech-heavy committees


Congressional shuffle: Here are the new key Congresspeople on tech-heavy committees

By now you must be all but snookered on election coverage. However, grant TNW your ears for a moment longer, as the following information will help you better parse news for the next two years.

A slight bit of information in this case goes a long way. According to the office of Speaker of the House John Boehner, several key committees in the House now have set leadership. This means that many of the Congressional groups that will conduct technology-related hearings and the like are now cemented.

To work:

  • Rep. Lamar Smith: Chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
  • Rep. Lee Terry: Chairman of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade subcommittee.
  • Rep. Bob Goodlatte: Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

Rep. Smith should be familiar, as he was the mastermind behind the defeated Stop Online Piracy Act, the attempted passage of which managed to unite whole swaths of the Internet in protest, and drew sharp rebuke from a number of large technology companies. However, Smith’s view on current and key issues is out of step with that of the larger scientific community.

The <3 of EU tech

The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!

Rep. Terry will, as The Hill points out, have “jurisdiction over online privacy issues in the next Congress.” This is key as issues such as an overhaul of email privacy come to the fore, and cybersecurity remains a live, debated issue.

Rep. Goodlatte will oversee such topics as the current scuffle over radio royalties, and the continued viability of technology-based services such as Pandora.

And, for good measure, the digitally active Rep. Darrell Issa – more on him here, from earlier today – will be heading up the Oversight and Government Reform committee.

These are but a few of the names that we will be in our world for the coming Congress, as a number of technology bills are considered. Still, they are a good few to begin learning.

Top Image Credit: Andrew Malone

Get the TNW newsletter

Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Published
Back to top