Washington, D.C. – This morning, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) submitted a resolution calling for a national vision to promote economic growth and greater consumer empowerment through the Internet of Things. This resolution comes on the heels of last month’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing titled “The Connected World: Examining the Internet of Things.”

Senator Fischer released the following statement regarding the resolution:

“The United States is well-positioned to lead the world in innovation policy. Our Internet of Things resolution would commit our nation to a national strategy incentivizing the use of new technologies to maximize consumer opportunity and to facilitate economic growth.  This forward-thinking initiative would call for a modern framework that encourages innovators. By doing so, we can usher in new ideas and solve problems in the years to come.”

Senator Booker released the following statement regarding the resolution:

“The Internet of Things has unbounded potential to impact our economy, society, and individual well-being.  This resolution underscores our strong commitment to fostering innovation, protecting consumers, and finding solutions to our toughest problems through technology-driven solutions. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as well as public and private sector stakeholders, as we continue working to ensure that America leads the world in cutting-edge technologies.”

Senator Ayotte released the following statement regarding the resolution:

“From New Hampshire to Nebraska and across the United States, the economic potential for the Internet of Things is truly remarkable because we have the most creative, capable and talented people in the world. Innovation and free-market principles must drive our hands-off regulatory approach, not overregulation. The Internet of Things resolution would encourage new opportunities to harness the power of the Internet and develop innovative solutions for people and businesses.”

Senator Schatz released the following statement regarding the resolution:

“The Internet of Things holds enormous potential.  And with more and more devices connecting to the Internet every day, the United States has a unique opportunity to continue leading this technological revolution.  As we work to advance the Internet of Things, we must remain committed to empowering consumers, developing technological safeguards while enabling innovation, and improving the quality of life for future generations.”

Last month’s Internet of Things hearing was initiated by an October 2014 letter authored by Senators Fischer, Ayotte, Booker and Schatz, requesting a hearing to address the changing landscape of new connected technologies. Earlier this year, theFederal Trade Commission released a report on the Internet of Things following their 2013 workshop on the same topic.

The resolution introduced today would put the United States in a position that would maintain our global competitiveness in the digital age. A recent report by International Data Corporation estimates the Internet of Things to generate nearly $8.9 trillion in global revenues with over 200 billion connected objects by 2020. In 2013, nine of the top 10 most innovative companies in the world were based in the United States. The rapidly developing market of health wearables, connected homes, and other novel solutions represents an expanding industry of consumer products.

Click here to view text of the Internet of Things resolution.