Republican Fred Upton will remain Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the next session of Congress.
Upton sat down with WMUK's Gordon Evans and Kalamazoo Gazette reporter Alex Mitchell. A summary.
Net Neutrality
President Obama has called for the FCC to regulate the Internet in the same way that phone service is regulated. The President doesn't want broadband providers create a "fast lane" that would allow them to charge providers more for using large amounts of bandwidth. Upton says the Internet has flourished because it hasn't been regulated. He says customers can find other services if they aren't satisfied with their provider. Upton says a hearing should be held soon before the Energy and Commerce Committee
Immigration
The interview was recorded November 25th, a few days after President Obama announced executive action to shield some undocumented immigrants from deportation. Upton says he agrees with the President that Congress should pass comprehensive legislation. But he says the President's actions probably make it tougher to get something approved. Upton says the current system is broken for undocumented workers, agriculture and for businesses.
21st Century Cures
Upton says his proposal to seek faster approval for medicine and medical devices has bi-partisan support. He says many venture capitalists are investing overseas instead of in the United States because of regulatory obstacles. Upton says legislation will be introduced early next year. He says the goal is to have a bill signed into law by the President by the end of next year. He says it's important to have the legislation done before the Presidential election season takes "all of the air out of the balloon."
Political Future
Under current Republican rules in the House, there are term limits on committee leadership. Upton would be able to serve one more term as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Chairman, although he says waivers are sometimes granted. Upton says it's not uncommon for someone to stay in Congress after they are no longer able to serve as chair of a committee. The Saint Joseph Republican says he plans to follow his usual process of making a decision on his political future about a year into his term.
In the web version of the interview, Upton also discusses the Environmental Protection Agency's regulations on renewable fuels, the Keystone XL Pipeline and whether an airbag manufacturer could face criminal charges over the possible concealing of evidence related to safety defects.
