Billy Long: How do I impeach thee? Let me count the ways

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

“How do I impeach thee? Let me count the ways.” 

While the Democrats, led by a new breed of socialist freshman, were consumed with impeaching President Trump, Republican Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee went quietly about our work. 

Out of the glare of the 24/7 impeachment spotlight, we were able to work long hours to pass the legislation our constituents wanted. 

From my vantage point on Energy and Commerce, I had a front-row seat to all the action, working to help my colleagues pass largely bipartisan legislation out of committee with the hope of eventually sending it to the president’s desk to be signed into law. 

As we move into a new year and look forward to what’s ahead, I want to take a moment to highlight what our committee accomplished in 2019.

As the sun was setting on the final days of 2019, we successfully passed the Broadband Data Act, a bill that promotes smarter broadband development that I was proud to co-sponsor. 

While the race to 5G is crucial, I remain committed to my constituents that have No-G. The lack of basic broadband services in rural communities is crippling in a digitally-dependent age; by enacting legislation like the Broadband Data Act that ensures our broadband maps are accurate, Congress will be better equipped to address this digital divide. 

I am proud that this crucial piece of legislation passed both the House and Senate and I look forward to the passage of its companion legislation, Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services (MAPS) Act in 2020.

The American people have expressed a deep frustration with maddening robocalls, and this year Energy and Commerce Republicans helped lead the charge by passing the bipartisan and bicameral Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. 

This legislation combats robocalls by ensuring that every call Americans receive can be verified and blocked at no extra cost to consumers; it also gives the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and law enforcement the authority to quickly pursue scammers. 

Robocalls have become an epidemic in this country, and I am proud that this year we were able to offer some relief.

In December, Energy and Commerce Republicans also hosted an Energy and Environment Innovation Showcase that featured companies, educational institutions, and other organizations from across the country to highlight their realistic approaches to renewable energy. 

I invited Missouri-based Roeslein Alternative Energy, a company that produces renewable natural gas (RNG) from hog manure, to highlight how companies in our state are pursuing clean energy practices on their own without strict and unreasonable legislation like the Green New Deal. 

Like Roeslein, the companies, institutions, and organizations featured have all made significant strides towards clean energy without the federal government forcing them to do so, and the Energy and Environment Innovation Showcase effectively highlighted their achievements. 

This showcase was a huge success, and I am proud of the difference companies like Roeslein are making both in their states and across the nation.

The Energy and Commerce Committee alone has seen twelve bills signed into law, held eighty-five hearings, and held seventeen markups in 2019. 

While we have seen some partisan bills come from Energy and Commerce Democrats, we were also able to set aside our differences and work together to better serve the American people. 

This past year, arguably one of the most partisan sessions of Congress in recent history, we were still able to pass bipartisan legislation, giving Americans some hope in an otherwise bleak political climate. 

As we move into 2020 and the next session, I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Missouri’s 7th Congressional District and working with my colleagues to pass the legislation the American people care about.