Innovation is the driving force behind a strong and growing economy, and nowhere is that better exemplified than in Silicon Valley, America’s hub of innovation. As a recognized leader and respected voice on technology issues, Zoe advocates strongly for Silicon Valley in Washington, D.C.

Advancing Internet Freedom  

A longtime champion of a free and open Internet, she supports free expression, universal network access, and privacy protection.  Recognizing that technology and Internet services are thriving components of our economy and culture, she is an advocate for multi-stakeholder Internet governance and removing barriers to innovation.

Leadership in the Digital Age

Among her colleagues in Congress, she is valued for her thoughtful insight and the forward-leaning policies she advances to spur the development of new technologies and the growth of America’s economy in the Digital Age.  Zoe was also instrumental in the selection of Silicon Valley for a new regional patent office so startups and inventors can have direct access to the services they need to thrive and innovate.

Zoe’s Committee assignments on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Science, Space and Technology Committee provide strong platforms to advocate for issues that are key to Silicon Valley.

Zoe’s Innovation, Technology, and Internet Freedom Agenda in the 113th Congress:

Online Communications and Geolocation Protection Act – H.R.983: This bipartisan bill updates the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) to give Internet users greater privacy from law enforcement data requests. It requires the government to get a warrant to obtain users’ online communications content (such as email messages) and geolocation information (such as cell phone tracking).

Wireless Tax Fairness Act – H.R.2309: This bipartisan legislation sets a temporary, five-year freeze on new taxes that are imposed only on wireless services.

Unlocking Technology Act – H.R.1892: This bipartisan bill modifies Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to scale back overbroad government restrictions on otherwise lawful uses of technology you own. It permits consumers to bypass digital locks on devices and software they own so long as they are not infringing on copyright.  Under this bill consumers could unlock their cell phones, jailbreak a tablet to run third party apps, or circumvent digital rights management (DRM) for disability access such as read aloud software for the blind.

Surveillance Order Reporting Act – H.R.3035: This bipartisan bill helps give Americans a better idea of the scale of government surveillance. The bill authorizes Internet and telecommunications companies to publicly report an estimate of the number of government surveillance orders they receive and the number of user accounts affected by those orders.

Aaron’s Law – H.R.2454: This bipartisan legislation, named in honor of Aaron Swartz, clarifies that the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) does not criminalize mere violations of terms of service, website notices, and agreements. If enacted, it would bring greater balance to penalties under CFAA by curbing redundant charges and inflated sentencing.

Global Free Internet Act – H.R.889: This bipartisan proposal establishes a private/public task force to review legislation, agency actions, and trade agreements – from both foreign governments and the U.S. government – to identify and respond to policies that undermine the free flow of information and an open and decentralized Internet.

You can learn more about Zoe’s work on these issues by clicking these links below: