Congressman Fred Upton is proud to represent the common-sense values of Southwest Michigan’s Sixth Congressional District. A diverse section of the state that stretches from the shores of Lake Michigan, the Sixth District is home to key industries that range from agriculture to auto parts manufacturing to high-tech biomedical innovation centers. It includes all of Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties, and most of Allegan County.
Prior to his election to Congress, Fred worked for President Ronald Reagan in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). While at OMB, he learned from President Reagan’s example that it does not matter who gets the credit, as long as the job gets done. That has been Fred’s approach since he was first elected to Congress in 1986 and continues today.
Throughout my tenure, I have worked to increase the deployment of telecommunications services to all American families and businesses. These new tools have helped create incredible job and economic growth. I have also fought to ensure that free speech and private innovation remain the hallmarks of this industry, while guaranteeing that our children are protected from online predators and indecent material.
Stopping Bad Robocalls
In 2019, I voted for and the House passed the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act which will direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue rules to protect consumers from calls they didn’t agree to receive. These new laws will require carriers to implement a call-authentication tool and offer call blocking services to consumers free of charge. I am a co-sponsor of this bipartisan legislation to end robocalls once and for all.
25 billion robocalls have been placed throughout the nation, including approximately 110 million robocalls in Southwest Michigan alone. I am proud to be a part of the effort to fix this problem so that people are no longer burdened and scammed by these calls. Enough is enough.
Making Investments in Broadband Infrastructure
In the 21st century, Internet broadband infrastructure must be reliable and secure for everyone. Recently, the Energy and Commerce Committee reviewed six bipartisan proposals specifically aimed at improving broadband deployment meant for consumers across the country. I will continue to be a bipartisan leader to ensure that families and businesses right here in Southwest Michigan have the access they need to the Internet, which remains the driving force of our 21st century economy.
Self-Driving Vehicles
Self-driving cars are the next frontier of innovation, safety, and economic growth. As the birthplace of the automotive industry, Michigan is a well-known home to innovative suppliers and manufacturers that make our cars and trucks safer, more efficient, and more affordable. Michigan also has a dense nexus of engineering talent, automotive research and development centers, and universities that are developing cutting-edge vehicle innovations.
In 2017, I joined Michigan Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) in sending a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao urging the new administration to designate a Michigan site as a proving grounds for automated vehicle testing. I look forward to continuing valuable public discussions on the safety improvements and revolutionary changes self-driving vehicles are bringing to our society.