US Congress House Bill 600 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Engrossed on January 30 2017 - 50% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2018-10-05 - Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 624.
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Digital GAP Act Digital Global Access Policy Act of 2017 (Sec. 4) This bill states that it is U.S. policy to coordinate with foreign governments, international and regional organizations, businesses, and civil society to close the digital gap in developing countries. (Sec. 5) The President is urged to direct U.S. representatives to international bodies to advocate for: (1) increasing efforts to promote affordable and gender-equitable Internet access and integrating such access data into economic and business assessments, evaluations, and indexes; (2) standardizing inclusion of broadband conduit-fiber optic cables; (3) providing technical assistance to remove investment barriers and strengthen market growth; and (4) protecting human rights online. (Sec. 6) It is the sense of Congress that: (1) the Department of State should seek to enhance the effectiveness of U.S. foreign assistance efforts in carrying out the policies and objectives of this bill, including by redesignating an existing Assistant Secretary position in the State Department to be the Assistant Secretary for Cyberspace; and (2) the U.S. Agency for International Development should integrate efforts to expand Internet access and establish guidelines for the protection of personal information of individuals served by humanitarian, disaster, and development programs. (Sec.8) The Peace Corps Act is amended to express the sense of Congress that the Peace Corps should develop volunteer positions focused on leveraging technology for development, education, and social and economic mobility. (Sec. 9) The President shall transmit plans to Congress to promote U.S. and U.S.-funded agency partnerships with the private and public sectors to provide Internet access or infrastructure in developing countries. (Sec. 10) The President shall report to Congress on efforts to implement the policies specified in this bill.

Digital GAP Act Digital Global Access Policy Act of 2017

Rep. Edward Royce [R-CA]

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers [R-WA]

Rep. Eliot Engel [D-NY]

Rep. Grace Meng [D-NY]

Date	Chamber	Action
2018-10-05	Senate	Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 624.
2018-10-05	Senate	Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
2018-09-26	Senate	Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
2017-01-30	Senate	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
2017-01-24	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2017-01-24	House	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text of measure as passed: CR H657-658)
2017-01-24	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 600.
2017-01-24	House	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H657-660)
2017-01-24	House	Mr. Royce (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
2017-01-23	House	Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
2017-01-23	House	Introduced in House

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/600/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr600/BILLS-115hr600ih.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr600/BILLS-115hr600eh.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr600/BILLS-115hr600rs.pdf