September 2026

No new taxes to fund the FCC’s Universal Service Fund

Washington has a familiar playbook when an outdated federal program runs into trouble: Rather than fixing what’s broken, it just finds someone new to pay for it. That is the danger Congress faces today with the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Fund. For nearly three decades, USF has helped connect rural communities, low-income Americans, schools, libraries, and rural healthcare providers.

What's next for the AI safety debate

A week of extraordinary warnings about 

Connecting Country Roads

In the 21st Century, access to connectivity is essential to nearly every aspect of American life. It drives the economy. Enhances public safety. Expands educational opportunities and healthcare services. It increases agriculture productivity and improves the quality of life for people everywhere. Because broadband is so essential to our economy and society, policymakers and providers have a shared responsibility to ensure that it remains accessible, reliable, and secure for all Americans.

Reps DeSaulnier and Patronis Introduce Legislation to Hold Tech Companies Accountable and Protect Young Americans

Reps Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Jimmy Patronis (R-FL) introduced the Sunset Section 230 Act, which would repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, making it possible for Americans to bring legal action against big tech companies responsible for online harm. Section 230 was created in 1996 as part of the Communications Decency Act to help encourage innovation and growth among new social media companies, but 30 years later as these companies have become inordinately powerful, Section 230 has become obsolete and dangerous.

Congress gripped by AI panic after doomsday warnings

Anthropic insiders' warnings that AI could end humanity in the next decade have members of Congress fr

TikTok rejects Meta ads amid settlement pressure campaign

TikTok has rejected ads from Meta that call on TikTok and other tech platforms to join Meta in settling with U.S.

Sponsor 

Senate Commerce Committee

Date 
Wed, 09/16/2026 - 10:00

Legislation

  1. S. 2586, MARA Act of 2025

  2. S. 3467, Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Reauthorization Act

  3. S. 3929, Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act

  4. S. 4573, Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act of 2026

  5. S. 4749, JAWBONE Act

  6. S. 4938, Bycatch Reduction Act

  7. S. 4950, ITS Codification Act