Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) today welcomed the White House’s Executive Order promoting global entrepreneurship and internet access in developing countries.  The measure mirrors part of bipartisan legislation, H.R. 5537, the Digital Global Access Policy Act of 2016, introduced by Chairman Royce earlier this week.

Chairman Royce said: “I am pleased to see the administration is taking steps to promote internet access in developing countries.  Internet access provides a lot of opportunities.  In the developing world, it drives economic growth and bolsters democracy, transparency and human rights.  The legislation I introduced this week, the Digital GAP Act, will build on the administration’s efforts and will help more people in developing countries get access to the many opportunities the internet offers.”

NOTE: A section-by-section summary of H.R. 5537, the Digital Global Access Policy Act of 2016, is available HERE.  The legislation builds upon the Foreign Affairs Committee’s recent gender and technology hearing.

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