Energy & Commerce Committee
- Republican Leader - Telecommunications & the Internet Subcommittee
- Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee
- Energy and Air Quality
Veterans Affairs Commitee, Deputy Republican Leader
- Health Subcommittee
Congressman Cliff Stearns Accomplishments:
List of Recognition and Awards
Communications, Technology and the Internet
Position: Republican Leader
Mission: In the ever changing digital world, this subcommittee stands at the forefront of the technological revolution.
Jurisdiction: Interstate and foreign telecommunications including, but not limited to all telecommunication and information transmission by broadcast, radio, wire, microwave, satellite, or other mode; and, Homeland security-related aspects of the foregoing, including cybersecurity. (from Committee Website)
Congressman Cliff Stearns
Accomplishments:
When he was Chairman of the Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee, Stearns held over 30 hearings on such issues as energy prices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Spyware, identity theft and data security, steroids in sports, counterfeit products, automobile safety, consumer privacy, automobile repair, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (Dubai Port deal).
List of hearings.
Identity Theft and Data Security
The subcommittee has held a series of hearings on privacy, identity theft, and data security. Stearns authored H.R. 4127, the Data Accountability and Trust Act (DATA Act). The measure protects consumers by requiring notification of security breaches and establishes stronger procedures for protecting consumer information. The full Committee approved H.R. 4127.
Spyware
Stearns' subcommittee took up the issue of Spyware, a program that is secretly loaded onto a victim's computer without their knowledge. Stearns amended H.R. 29, the SPY Act, substituting his language, which was later passed by the House.
Steroids in Sports
Held the first hearing on steroids in sports. This led to Stearns offering H.R. 3084, the Drug Free sports Act, which would establish stronger penalties for steroid use and apply Olympic standards for testing. The full committee approved this bill. In response to this bill, MLB adopted the tougher penalties provided for in the bill.
Energy Prices
Stearns held a hearing to look at fuel prices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Stearns offered an amendment, which was adopted, to Committee legislation giving the FTC the authority, for the first time, to investigate and prosecute instances of price gouging in an emergency. Stearns' provision was expanded and approved by the full House in H.R. 5253.
Foreign Ownership of U.S. Ports
After the proposed sale of management of U.S. ports to Dubai; legislation to reform the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) was offered. Stearns' subcommittee considered this bill, H.R. 5337, which was later adopted by the House.
Violent Video Games
Stearns' subcommittee looked at the rating and marketing of video games, with a special focus on children accessing games with inappropriate content. The subcommittee learned that ratings are provided to games without anyone playing through the entire game to see the full content. Stearns has offered legislation, H.R. 6113, the Truth in Video Games Act, requiring that an entire game by reviewed for ratings.
Car Title Fraud
Stearns examined the fraudulent practice of passing off flood-damaged or salvaged vehicles as ready for the road through cleaning or 'washing' their titles. Stearns authored H.R. 6093, the Damaged Vehicle Information Act, to require the disclosure of vehicle information.
For a futher Committee Information:
Committee Accomplishments: Highlights of the Energy & Commerce Committee
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Position: Deputy Ranking Republican Member
Link: http://veterans.house.gov
Mission: The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs reviews veterans' programs, examines current laws, and reports bills and amendments to strengthen existing laws concerning veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), such as for health care, disability compensation, GI bill education and job training, home loan guarantees, life insurance policies, and a nationwide system of veterans' cemeteries.
Subcommittee on Health
The Subcommittee on Health has legislative and oversight jurisdiction for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ health care system, programs and research apparatus. Over the past decade, VA has transformed the health care system to include over 600 health care facilities, including medical centers, nursing homes and hundreds of community-based outpatient clinics organized into service networks throughout the nation, now caring for an estimated 5.2 million veterans.
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