HR 686 Introduced – IOT Support

Last month Rep. Paulsen (R,MN) introduced HR 686, the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act. This is a companion bill to S 88 that was introduced in the Senate. That means that the language of the bill is the same and it allows for work to begin on the bill in both houses of Congress at the same time, instead of sequentially.

Paulsen sponsored a very similar bill (HR 5117) in the 114^th Congress. No action was taken on that bill, at least partially because Paulsen was not a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and his co-sponsor {Rep. Welch (D,VT)} was not an influential member of that Committee. The same holds true for this session as well; except that Welch’s influence has increased some because this is his second term in the House. The bill will probably not see action in committee.

The bill would probably be approved in committee if considered and would similarly pass if it made it to the floor of the House since no regulatory authority or new spending is provided.