Senate Dems press Ryan to hold net neutrality vote

Senate Democrats are urging Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to hold a vote on a bill that would restore the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) net neutrality rules.

All 49 Senate Democrats signed a letter to Ryan sent Thursday asking him to schedule a vote for the bill, which passed the Senate last month.

“Now that the Senate has taken this critical step, it is incumbent on the House of Representatives to listen to the voices of consumers, including the millions of Americans who supported the FCC’s 2015 net neutrality order, and keep the internet free and open for all,” the letter reads.

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The legislation would reverse the FCC’s December vote to repeal the regulations, which require internet service providers to treat all web traffic equally.

Three Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and John Kennedy (La.) — joined Democrats to pass the bill in the upper chamber by a 52-47 vote.

But House Democrats will have a harder time bringing the bill to the floor. They’ll need the support of at least 25 Republicans in order to force a vote and pass the resolution.

A spokeswoman for the Speaker’s office declined to comment, referring questions about the bill to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

A spokeswoman for that panel did not respond when contacted about the letter.

Updated at 4:40 p.m.