Rep. Bob Latta

R

Ohio – District 5
representative

Leadership

Chairman Energy

119th Congress

News & Announcements

Feb 6, 2026
Press Release

Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis Announce CMT Subcommittee Markup of Legislation to Strengthen Motor Vehicle Safety and Advance U.S. Automotive Leadership

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, announced a subcommittee markup of twelve bills to strengthen automotive safety, affordability, and leadership.

WHAT: Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade markup of twelve bills.

DATE: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

TIME: 10:15 AM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

Items to be considered:

  • H.R. 5221, PART Act (Reps. Baird and McCollum)
  • H.R. 2110, Safe Vehicle Access for Survivors Act (Reps. Dingell and Crenshaw)
  • H.R. 6688, ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act (Reps. Harshbarger, Obernolte, Vazquez, and Torres-CA)
  • H.R. 3360, Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act (Rep. Mullin)
  • H.R. 3385], To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue certain regulations to update the definition of motorcycle, and for other purposes. (Rep. Van Ordan)
  • H.R. 1566, Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act (Reps. Dunn and Perez)
  • H.R. 7389, Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026 (Chairman Guthrie)
  • H.R. 7390, Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution (SELF DRIVE) Act of 2026 (Rep. Latta)
  • H.R. 7372, Safety Is Not for Sale Act (Ranking Member Pallone)
  • H.R. 7377, Know Before You Drive Act (Rep. Schrier)
  • H.R. 6947, Securing Accessible Functional Emergency (SAFE) Exit Act of 2026 (Rep. Kelly-IL)
  • H.R. 7353, Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act of 2026 (Rep. Clarke)

This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Jackson Rudden at Jackson.Rudden@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov.

Feb 4, 2026
Communications & Technology

C&T Subcommittee Holds Hearing on FirstNet Reauthorization

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, led a hearing titled Evaluating FirstNet: Performance, Accountability, and Reauthorization.

“FirstNet’s authorization expires at the beginning of next year, and it is this Committee’s duty to reauthorize the program before it expires,” said Chairman Hudson. “In the process, we should examine FirstNet’s activities since its creation 15 years ago and make any changes necessary to improve its performance. The future of public safety relies on safe resources like FirstNet.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

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Congressman Neal Dunn (FL-02): “When Congress created the First Responder Network Authority, there was a clear mandate to have [a] public safety, preemptive network that would be used exclusively for first responders on the ground. [...] Our nation’s heroes and public servants who are the first to respond and the first people to put their lives on the line to protect Americans need robust communications. It was a very clear mandate to give our local communities the resources they need to respond to tragedies, and what we’ve seen since 2017, when the contract was awarded, has been a tremendous success story. We’ve also learned some lessons. Our job in Congress of enforcement and oversight of the program is critical and that includes contract transparency and maintaining accountability at all levels.”

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Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05): “On 9/11, I was driving. I was in the General Assembly in Ohio at the time. And of course, everything just collapsed. You’re trying to use your cell phone to find out what was going on. Everything was down. Everything. [...] For our first responders out there, we worried about that. […] And that’s why with FirstNet, we want to make sure that never, ever occurs again, because we want to make sure for the people that the first responders are out there trying to protect, but also to protect those first responders.”

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Congressman Craig Goldman (TX-12): “Can you just take us through, anecdotally, what it was like before FirstNet was created? Any stories you may have? And then the improvements of FirstNet and where we are today?” Sherriff Adkinson: “I mean, obviously, 9/11, the impetus of this. But I can tell you I’ve been through Hurricane Katrina, and there was no ability to talk. When there was so much volume, […] you have everybody trying to call at one time. What happens now with priority and preemption is that those first responders now have access to this network. […] This ensures that our first responders can get out when nobody else can.”

Feb 4, 2026
Energy

Chairman Latta Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Energy Markup to Strengthen American Cybersecurity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup of five bills.

Subcommittee Chairman Latta’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Today the Energy Subcommittee will mark up five bills that will update and enhance programs to help ensure the physical and cyber security of our nation’s electric grid.

“These bills, two of which we have moved through the Committee in past Congresses with strong bi-partisan support, also strengthen the Department of Energy’s ability to carry out its energy emergency functions.

“At our legislative hearing three weeks ago, witnesses emphasized the importance of robust collaboration between industry, states, and the federal government to ensure secure energy systems.

“These bills will strengthen this work by enhancing DOE’s existing energy sector authorities and by providing new tools to ensure fuller industry involvement.

“We consider these bills today against the backdrop of growing threats to our energy systems—including advanced threats from our adversaries.

“As noted in recent hearings, Communist China remains the most active and persistent threat to American critical infrastructure networks. Its proxies have pre-positioned attack capabilities in American infrastructure, to be used during a major crisis or conflict.

“Addressing these and related threats is difficult and can be resource intensive.

“The interconnected nature of our energy systems requires constant intelligence sharing, clear visibility into threat landscapes, and sufficient resources to fill gaps in security protections, particularly for rural and small utility service territories.

“The bills we will consider today take important steps to accomplish this and more.

“H.R. 7305, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026, led by the gentlelady from Florida’s fourteenth congressional district and the gentleman from Colorado’s eighth congressional district, authorizes a program that improves information sharing and coordination on threat analyses that impact the power sector.

“A key ingredient of this program involves two-way sharing of information between grid operators and the intelligence community to their mutual benefit: improving the ability to assess risks and threats and then how to act upon that information.

“H.R. 7258, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act, led by the gentlelady from Florida’s fifteenth congressional district and the gentleman from Ohio’s first congressional district, represents long-time bipartisan policy of this Committee to strengthen the ability of DOE to carry out its energy sector security and emergency functions.

“The bill requires the energy emergency and security functions at DOE are led by an Assistant Secretary, confirmed by the Senate. This will ensure the Department has the focused and accountable leadership that will strengthen intergovernmental and energy sector collaboration.

“H.R. 7266, the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, led by the gentlelady from Iowa’s first congressional district and the gentlelady from Virginia’s fourth congressional district, provides targeted funding and technical assistance so small utilities, electric co-operatives, and public power agencies have the resources to secure their critical electric systems—including systems serving military installations.

“Of course, as we heard during our legislative hearing, States are critical to energy security. They have unique visibility into the interconnected relationships, risks and vulnerabilities related to the energy systems within their borders.

“H.R. 7257, the SECURE Grid Act, which I sponsored with my colleague from California’s seventh congressional district, builds upon the existing State Energy Security Plan framework to expand the visibility of potential threats to local electric distribution and supply chain networks.

“Finally, as the Sector Risk Management Agency for the energy sector, DOE must have visibility over the whole energy sector, which as we heard in the legislative hearing is comprised of increasingly interconnected systems.

“Because of this, DOE actively works not only with the power sector, but also the oil and gas sector to prepare and respond appropriately to emergencies.

“DOE’s technical capabilities and central role in Federal energy coordination make it well positioned to improve the complex layers of communication necessary for energy sector security.

“H.R. 7272, the Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act, led by the Subcommittee Vice Chairman from Texas’s fourteenth congressional district and the gentlelady from Michigan’s sixth congressional district, does just this.

“It builds on DOE’s leadership to establish a non-regulatory program to improve the coordination and other assistance across the energy sector, states, and the federal government with regard to the security and resilience of pipelines and other facilities that deliver the nation’s oil and gas—and are necessary for reliable energy and power.

“All told, these bills advance the important bipartisan work of this Subcommittee to protect critical energy infrastructure.”

Letters

Jan 6, 2025
Press Release

Chairman Guthrie and Chairman Latta Question Energy Department’s Involvement in Biden-Harris Offshore Drilling Ban

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Yesterday, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, along with Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, penned a letter to Secretary Jennifer Granholm questioning the Department of Energy’s involvement in the Biden-Harris Administration’s decision to prevent new offshore oil and gas production, leading to higher prices for consumers and harming U.S. energy security. KEY LETTER EXCERPT: “Closing off swaths of U.S. offshore areas to energy production, as the Biden-Harris Administration reportedly intends to do, will lead to higher energy prices for American families, the loss of American jobs, and greatly diminish our country’s energy security. As the Secretary of Energy, you have an obligation to weigh in on this matter and insist on a full review of the energy security and economic impacts before any decisions are finalized. “The United States stands at an energy crossroads, facing mounting global security threats and soaring demand for power. Instead of leading the world in energy production, we’ve allowed misguided “green” policies to hamstring our potential. It’s time to unleash American energy dominance again—the federal government must become an ally, not an obstacle, to our nation’s energy security. We look forward to your prompt response to this request, no later than January 10, 2025.” Read the story  here . BACKGROUND: This morning, the Biden Administration announced that more than 625 million square miles of coastline would be off-limits for energy production. Republican Members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce have continuously called on the Biden-Harris Administration to end its attack on American energy production before leaving office on January 20th. The letter requests an explanation of the DOE’s involvement in the decision and whether the White House or the Department of Interior consulted with the DOE about the plans to close off access to offshore resources. Any decision to shut down access to significant American energy resources impacts U.S. energy policy and should be reviewed by the DOE. The Biden Administration’s energy policies have continued to create major harm to America’s energy production and workforce. A unilateral ban on energy production in large swaths of the U.S. coastline will have lasting impacts on American energy production and security.

Oct 7, 2024
Letter

Chair Rodgers Leads House GOP in Demanding Answers Over FCC Fast-Tracking Democrat Mega-Donor’s Media Takeover Weeks Before Election

Soros-linked fund to acquire more than 200 local radio stations weeks before election Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) led 40 of her Republican colleagues in demanding answers from the Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding her recent decision to fast-track a media deal allowing the Fund for Policy Reform, a group aligned with Democratic mega-donor George Soros, to buy over 200 radio stations just weeks before the 2024 election. With a party line vote of 3-2, the decision at the Commission level by the Democratic members of the FCC to temporarily waive the required national security review and allow excessive foreign ownership of American radio stations is deeply disturbing. KEY LETTER EXCERPT: “It is highly concerning that the FCC did not follow regular order for a transaction of this magnitude. Licensees and investors need certainty that the FCC will follow its rules and procedures when approving transactions so that the broadcast industry can have the resources it needs to continue serving the public.”  BACKGROUND: Audacy, Inc., a radio broadcasting group, which owns more than 200 radio-station licenses, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.  Audacy’s filings revealed that a George Soros-backed group known as the Fund for Policy Reform had acquired at least 40 percent of Audacy’s debt.   Audacy estimated that, upon emerging from bankruptcy, 25 percent or more of its stock would be indirectly foreign owned, which triggers FCC review.   This review process requires national security agencies to review the transaction and offer any policy or national security concerns.   On September 30, 2024, the FCC released an Order granting a temporary waiver of this review process, delaying a national security review until after the bankruptcy process is complete and allowing foreign control of a significant number of radio stations across the entire United States, weeks before a national election. CLICK HERE to read Breitbart's exclusive coverage. CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

Jul 25, 2024
Press Release

E&C Republicans Open Inquiry into NTIA’s Online Domain Name Registry Contracts Ahead of Renewal

Washington, D.C. — In a new letter to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chair Bob Latta (R-OH), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) requested information about the agency’s internet domain name registry agreement with Verisign, Inc. (Verisign). BACKGROUND :  The NTIA represents the United States government on the Governmental Advisory Committee of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the multi-stakeholder, not-for-profit entity that was founded in 1998 to coordinate the Internet domain name system, among other Internet management-related activities. Since 2001, Verisign has operated the .com and .net domain name registries.   Verisign manages the .com registry under two agreements—a .com Registry Agreement between ICANN and Verisign and a Cooperative Agreement between the NTIA and Verisign.  Both of these agreements are in place through November 30, 2024.  As the expiration dates of these agreements approach, some have suggested that the NTIA should reassess certain aspects of both agreements.   Under the Cooperative Agreement’s terms, it will automatically renew on November 30, 2024, unless Verisign provides written notice of non-renewal within 120 days of its expiration.   The Department of Justice has previously recommended ICANN hold a competitive bidding process for renewals of registry agreements.   The current agreement, as amended, has allowed Verisign, with ICANN’s agreement, in each of the last four years of every six-year contract period, to increase the maximum price Verisign charges for yearly registration or renewal of a .com name by up to seven percent over the maximum price it charged in the previous year.   Verisign has since instituted a price increase of the maximum amount in every year it was allowed to do so.   KEY LETTER EXCERPT :  “With both a role in advising ICANN and as a party to the Cooperative Agreement, the NTIA bears responsibility for supporting a domain name system that enables the growth of online commerce. Both individual consumers and businesses depend on responsible management of the .com system. Monopolistic elements and excessive domain name price increases stifle the ability of potential .com registrants to conduct business online.  “As such, we seek more information about the NTIA’s process in considering the renewal of both the Registry Agreement and the Cooperative Agreement.”  CLICK HERE to read the letter.