Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, is retiring after his current term and after 25 years in Congress, the legislator said Thursday (Nov. 9) on his website.

The House Judiciary, which shares jurisdiction with the House Energy & Commerce Committee, has been active on numerous communications issues, including network neutrality, set-top boxes, intellectual property/copyright, cybersecurity and privacy, and internet taxation.

Goodlatte was reelected chair of the committee last December, but can't serve another term as chairman.

"With my time as chairman of the Judiciary Committee ending in December 2018, this is a natural stepping-off point and an opportunity to begin a new chapter of my career and spend more time with my family, particularly my granddaughters," he said.

"As a chairman of two critical committees, Congressman Goodlatte has always proven himself as a thoughtful, forward-thinking leader," said fellow Judiciary Committee member Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). "During his time in Congress, he's worked hard as a relentless advocate for internet freedom, a champion of strong intellectual property protections, and as an unyielding defender of our constitution. Virginia's 6th District has been served admirably under his leadership."

Judiciary Committee member Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) said of the congressman's announcement.

“No Judiciary chairman has led the committee during a more intense season of technological advance and its policy implications than Chairman Goodlatte," he said. "Our Chairman understands that every question that the Judiciary considers today has to offer solutions for tomorrow. I continue to appreciate the example he has set and look forward to working with him on the ambitious agenda he’s laid out for the 115th Congress.”

WASHINGTON — Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) has been reelected by the House Republican Caucus to chair the House Judiciary Committee.

The committee oversees some communications issues, particularly related to copyright and intellectual property, splitting oversight with the House Energy & Commerce Committee, whose new chair is Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.). Outgoing E&C chair Fred Upton (R-Mich.) was term-limited.

“Chairman Goodlatte has been a steady hand guiding the House Judiciary Committee through some of Congress’s most intricate and complex legislation," said fellow committee member Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.). “Under his strong leadership, the Committee has pursued an ambitious agenda, accomplishing significant, bipartisan legislative achievements. I look forward to working with him and the Committee in the new Congress.”

In other committee election news, as legislators pick leadership for the new Congress seated in January, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) was unanimously elected by his Democratic colleagues to remain ranking member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

“I’m honored that my Democratic colleagues have once again elected me to serve as the Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee,” Pallone said in a statement. “As we prepare for a new Congress and the new Trump administration, I’m committed to working with all of my House colleagues to develop and push policies that will help build a stronger economy, create more good-paying jobs and protect consumers.

Democratic Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee,  has joined with House Republican leaders to call for the FCC to release the text of its set-top proposal before it votes on it. An FCC spokesperson said that the chairman does not release items until after the final vote.

That request for the text came in a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler Friday (Sept. 16) and followed similar calls by Senate Republicans in an FCC oversight hearing this week.

Before a vote such items are considered works in progress--they can still be adjusted and edited--and Wheeler clearly signaled this week that the set-top proposal was not done.

Also calling for release of the proposal text were Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Communications Subcommittee Chair Greg Walden (R-Ore.), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.). Conyers is ranking member on Judiciary

In the letter, they say that the proposal would benefit from a public vetting and, absent that, it is hard to know what the FCC is planning or its impact.

Republican members of the commission, notably Ajit Pai, have also called for releasing the document.

"Without further delay, we request that you release the text of the proposal," they said, which "raises issues of significance to both of our Committees." They said they also wanted stakeholders to have "time to meaningfully discuss the implications of the proposal."

Senate and House Democrats have increasingly expressed their concerns and called for more deliberation--Wheeler has scheduled a vote for Sept. 29--though Sens. Ed Markey (D-

Wheeler has said he is willing, and expects, to continue to hash out the item with his colleagues, which will be necessary since the two Republicans are opposed and Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel has questioned the FCC's authority to get into the app standards-setting business.

"Consistent with long-standing FCC procedure, the Chairman does not release an item under consideration prior to the final vote of all Commissioners," said FCC press secretary Kim Hart. "As Chairman Wheeler has said, releasing the text of the order prior to the vote would be a radical departure from established procedure and could undermine the crucial deliberation process between Commissioners. 

"We continue to have productive conversations with all stakeholders about Chairman Wheeler’s apps-based proposal to ensure consumers have the options they deserve – and that Congress mandated – to access the programming they already pay for."