Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, has a commitment to bring up the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) (S-1693) (see 1803020024) after consideration of a Senate banking bill and is hopeful for a vote next week, he told us Thursday. A Portman staffer said proponents will pursue the House version of the bill. After the House passed the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) (HR-1865) with more than 380 votes, the White House announced its support. “We’re looking forward to getting it done,” Portman said, calling House passage and White House support “encouraging.”

House Communications Subcommittee members spent much of a Tuesday NTIA oversight hearing focused on the agency's spectrum management role, as expected (see 1803050053). Lawmakers also peppered Administrator David Redl with other questions about his views on the 2016 Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, broadband mapping and public safety communications.

House Communications Subcommittee members spent much of a Tuesday NTIA oversight hearing focused on the agency's spectrum management role, as expected (see 1803050053). Lawmakers also peppered Administrator David Redl with other questions about his views on the 2016 Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, broadband mapping and public safety communications.

The lead sponsors of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (S-1693) were still deciding at the end of last week whether they will seek to pass the existing language of their bill when it comes up for a floor vote the week of March 12, or instead pursue the combination with the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (HR-1865) the House passed Tuesday. The House cleared HR-1865 on a 388-25 vote after agreeing to add provisions from S-1693 over objections from some tech sector and privacy advocates (see 1802270057). Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., meanwhile, continued to raise objections to S-1693 that stalled the bill last year (see 1711080042 and 1801030047).

Cloud Act sponsor Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., told us Thursday he’s hopeful the legislation will get attached to the fiscal 2018 spending bill, though it will require consent from “an awful lot of folks.” Agreement would need to come from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., who respectively chair the Senate and House Judiciary Committees and could assert jurisdiction over the bill and schedule hearings (see 1802140062). Oral argument in U.S. v. Microsoft was held last week before the Supreme Court, where justices explored implications of the Cloud Act (S-2383) (see 1802270052).

Cloud Act sponsor Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., told us Thursday he’s hopeful the legislation will get attached to the fiscal 2018 spending bill, though it will require consent from “an awful lot of folks.” Agreement would need to come from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., who respectively chair the Senate and House Judiciary Committees and could assert jurisdiction over the bill and schedule hearings (see 1802140062). Oral argument in U.S. v. Microsoft was held last week before the Supreme Court, where justices explored implications of the Cloud Act (S-2383) (see 1802270052).

The lead sponsors of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (S-1693) were still deciding at the end of last week whether they will seek to pass the existing language of their bill when it comes up for a floor vote the week of March 12, or instead pursue the combination with the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (HR-1865) the House passed Tuesday. The House cleared HR-1865 on a 388-25 vote after agreeing to add provisions from S-1693 over objections from some tech sector and privacy advocates (see 1802270057). Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., meanwhile, continued to raise objections to S-1693 that stalled the bill last year (see 1711080042 and 1801030047).

The lead sponsors of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (S-1693) were still deciding at the end of last week whether they will seek to pass the existing language of their bill when it comes up for a floor vote the week of March 12, or instead pursue the combination with the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (HR-1865) the House passed Tuesday. The House cleared HR-1865 on a 388-25 vote after agreeing to add provisions from S-1693 over objections from some tech sector and privacy advocates (see 1802270057). Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., meanwhile, continued to raise objections to S-1693 that stalled the bill last year (see 1711080042 and 1801030047).

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., and ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said they are moving closer to a deal with House Commerce Committee leaders to attach language on FCC reauthorization and some spectrum issues to the FY 2018 omnibus spending bill. No deal was yet reached. The lawmakers have been negotiating over provisions from the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act FCC reauthorization bill (HR-4986) and the Senate-passed Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (Mobile Now) Act (S-19) spectrum bill (see 1708030060, 1802270055 and 1802280049).

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., and ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said they are moving closer to a deal with House Commerce Committee leaders to attach language on FCC reauthorization and some spectrum issues to the FY 2018 omnibus spending bill. No deal was yet reached. The lawmakers have been negotiating over provisions from the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act FCC reauthorization bill (HR-4986) and the Senate-passed Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (Mobile Now) Act (S-19) spectrum bill (see 1708030060, 1802270055 and 1802280049).