WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV issued the following statement after provisions to authorize the Federal Communications Commission to conduct voluntary incentive auctions and create a public safety communications network for first responders were dropped from a final debt relief deal:

“I am disappointed that the House failed to make communications safer and more reliable for first responders.  We had hoped that a version of our legislation would have been in the deficit package this week.  Despite that setback, I will continue to fight to make sure that by the 10th anniversary of 9/11 we have this bill signed into law.”

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