Letters, Comments & Testimony

Written Testimony for House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Homeland Security

April 21, 2023 | Lars Schönander

Click here to download a PDF of the testimony. Chairman Dave Joyce, Ranking Member Henry Cuellar, and Members of the Subcommittee: My name is Lars Erik Schönander. I am a Policy Technologist at Lincoln Network, a think tank working to bridge the gap between Silicon Valley and D.C. by applying technology and technical talent to

April 20, 2023 | Dan Lips

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Fischer, and members of the Subcommittee: My name is Dan Lips. I am Head of Policy at Lincoln Network. I am writing to respectfully urge the Subcommittee to support the Comptroller General’s FY2024 budget request for the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

April 19, 2023 | Dan Lips

Today, I submitted a letter to Senators Bernie Sanders and William Cassidy, Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, offering input on policies that the Committee should consider during the reauthorization of the Education Sciences Reform Act. Click here to download a PDF of the letter. Dear Chairman Sanders and Ranking

April 18, 2023 | Dan Lips

Today, members of Lincoln Network joined 13 organizations in signing a letter to Senators Maggie Hassan and Todd Young, applauding them for their ongoing leadership in the effort to restore full and immediate expensing for investments in U.S. research and development (R&D). Click here to download a PDF of the letter. Dear Senators Hassan and Young: On

April 14, 2023 | Dan Lips

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairman Diaz-Balart, Ranking Member Lee, and members of the subcommittee: Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony. My name is Dan Lips. I am Head of Policy at Lincoln Network, a think tank focused on promoting innovation, strengthening governance, and advancing national security.

April 14, 2023 | Jonathon Hauenschild

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Cartright, and Members of the Subcommittee: We are writing on behalf of Lincoln Network, a think tank working with policymakers and tech innovators to promote market-oriented ideas that strengthen American innovation. We write to encourage the Subcommittee to provide appropriations sufficient

April 14, 2023 | Samuel Hammond

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairman Hal Rogers, Ranking Member Cartwright, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Samuel Hammond, and I am Senior Economist at Lincoln Network, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting innovation, improving governance, and strengthening national security.

April 13, 2023 | Dan Lips

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairman Hal Rogers, Ranking Member Cartwright, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Dan Lips. I am Head of Policy at Lincoln Network, a think tank focused on promoting innovation, strengthening governance, and advancing national security. I

April 11, 2023 | Lars Schönander

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairman Andy Harris, Ranking Member Sanford Bishop, and Members of the Subcommittee: My name is Lars Erik Schönander. I am a Policy Technologist at Lincoln Network, a think tank working to bridge the gap between Silicon Valley and D.C. by applying technology and technical talent

The Next Federal STEM Strategic Plan

March 28, 2023 | Robert Bellafiore

Last week, I spoke at a listening session on STEM research and innovation capacity convened by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Below are my remarks. Good afternoon, my name is Robert Bellafiore. I am Research Manager at Lincoln Network, an organization focused on promoting innovation and strengthening national security. I appreciate

March 23, 2023 | Dan Lips

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairman Aderholt, Ranking Member DeLauro, and members of the Subcommittee: My name is Dan Lips. I am Head of Policy at Lincoln Network and a member of the Alliance for Learning Innovation coalition.[1] I am writing to respectfully urge that the Subcommittee prioritize research and

March 20, 2023 | Lars Schönander

Today, I submitted a public comment to the Economic Development Administration concerning its proposed rules for the Implementation of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program. My name is Lars Erik Schönander. I am a Policy Technologist at Lincoln Network. I appreciate the opportunity to provide public comment to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)

March 17, 2023 | Zach Graves

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairman Amodei, Ranking Member Espaillat, and members of the Subcommittee: My name is Zach Graves. I am the Executive Director of Lincoln Network, a market-oriented non-profit working at the intersection of technology, governance, and national security. A key part of our programmatic work has been

March 17, 2023 | Dan Lips

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairman Amodei, Ranking Member Espaillat, and members of the Subcommittee: My name is Dan Lips. I am Head of Policy at Lincoln Network. I am writing to respectfully urge the Subcommittee to support the Comptroller General’s FY2024 budget request for the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

March 4, 2023 | Lars Schönander

Today, I submitted written testimony to the House Committee on Appropriations’s Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. I encouraged the subcommittee to protect U.S. postsecondary institutions from malign foreign influence by directing the Department of Education to enforce compliance with Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. Click here to download a

March 1, 2023 | Luke Hogg

Today, Zach Graves, Executive Director of Lincoln Network, and figures from three other organizations, sent a letter to Speaker McCarthy and members of the House Republican Conference, recommending that they strengthen the legislative branch and its capacity for policymaking and oversight in the 118th Congress. The text of the letter reads: Dear Speaker McCarthy and members of

February 28, 2023 | Jonathon Hauenschild

Data breach notification standards are important tools to protect cybersecurity. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), though, lacks congressional authority to expand its current notification regime to include “accidental” or “inadvertent breaches.” In a recent comment filed with the FCC, I discussed the need to ensure that consumers are notified when bad actors intentionally access confidential

February 28, 2023 | Jonathon Hauenschild

When deploying broadband infrastructure, service providers should not discriminate against potential customers on the basis of income level, race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin. In a recent comment filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), I discussed the best ways for the FCC to realize its goal of closing the digital divide while preventing discrimination.

February 2, 2023 | Luke Hogg

Today, Zach Graves, Executive Director of Lincoln Network, and Matt Lira, former Special Assistant to the President for Innovation Policy, sent a letter to Speaker McCarthy, urging him to modernize the House of Representatives. The text of the letter reads: Dear Speaker McCarthy: Congratulations on your election as Speaker of the House of Representatives. As

November 18, 2022 | Geoff Cain

Click here to download a PDF of the letter. We write as U.S. foreign policy and national security professionals concerned about countering the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s malign influence to support the inclusion of the Establishing New Authorities for Businesses Laundering and Enabling Risks to Security (ENABLERS) Act in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal

September 14, 2022 | Geoff Cain

Click here to download a PDF of the full testimony. Social Media’s Impact on Homeland Security Chairman Peters, Ranking Member Portman, and Members of the Committee: It is an honor to be invited to testify here on social media’s impact on national security. Today, I will talk about one of the greatest technological threats facing

June 30, 2022 | Dan Lips

Click here to download a PDF of the full testimony. Chairman Coons, Ranking Member Graham, and Members of the Subcommittee: My name is Dan Lips. I am Head of Policy at Lincoln Network. I am writing to encourage the Subcommittee to provide additional funding to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), especially for its

June 24, 2022 | Luke Hogg

Click here to download a PDF of the full testimony. Chairman Van Hollen, Ranking Member Hyde-Smith, and Members of the Subcommittee, We are writing on behalf of Lincoln Network to encourage this Subcommittee to provide additional funding to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and to direct funds for the hiring of additional staff technologists. In

June 23, 2022 | Reynold Schweickhardt

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chair Kilmer, Vice Chair Timmons, and Members of the Committee: I am pleased to appear today to testify about ways to improve the digital capacity of the House of Representatives. I will be speaking to structural issues that raise the costs of implementing digital initiatives

June 21, 2022 | Lars Schönander

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, Ranking Member John Kennedy, and Members of the Subcommittee: My name is Lars Erik Schönander. I am a Policy Technologist at Lincoln Network, a think tank to help bridge the gap between Silicon Valley and DC along with leveraging technology and technical

June 3, 2022 | Dan Lips

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairwoman Lee, Ranking Member Rogers, and Members of the Subcommittee: My name is Dan Lips. I am head of policy at Lincoln Network. I am writing to encourage the Subcommittee to provide additional funding to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), specifically to provide

May 27, 2022 | Dan Lips

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Braun, and Members of the Subcommittee: My name is Dan Lips. I am head of policy at Lincoln Network. I respectfully urge the subcommittee to fully fund the Comptroller General’s budget request of $810 million for the U.S. Government Accountability Office

May 26, 2022 | Dan Lips

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairman DeLauro, Ranking Member Cole, and Members of the Subcommittee: My name is Dan Lips. I am Head of Policy at Lincoln Network. I respectfully urge the Subcommittee to conduct needed oversight of the Education Department’s programs to identify ways to increase the nation’s return-on-investment

May 19, 2022 | Dan Lips

Click here to download a full PDF of the testimony. Chairman Ryan, Ranking Member Herrera-Beautler, and Members of the Subcommittee: My name is Dan Lips. I am Head of Policy at Lincoln Network. I respectfully urge thesubcommittee to fully fund the Comptroller General’s budget request of $810 million for theU.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) for

December 6, 2021 | Luke Hogg

Click here to download a PDF of the letter. Dear Chairman Durbin and Ranking Member Grassley: We write to support your efforts to bring the Open Courts Act (S. 2614) to a vote before the Senate Judiciary Committee on December 9. We have long appreciated your commitment to transparency in all branches of government, including

November 3, 2021 | Luke Hogg

Today, Lincoln Network and six other organizations and individuals sent a letter to Senate Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairman Richard Shelby and Senate Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch Ranking Member Mike Braun urging them to prioritize Congress’ policy making capacity and increasing its oversight capabilities. This letter cited the lack of proportional investment in the

September 29, 2021 | Zach Graves

Written Testimony of Zach Graves Before the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress Click here to download the full PDF with footnotes. Note: The original date for this hearing was postponed and is currently expected to be rescheduled in the coming weeks. Chair Kilmer, Vice Chair Timmons, and members of the Committee: Thank you

July 22, 2021 | Zach Graves

Click here to view a PDF of the letter. Hon. Richard Shelby, Vice ChairU.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Hon. Mike Braun, Ranking MemberSubcommittee on the Legislative BranchU.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Re: Strengthening Article I with Policy and Oversight Capacity Dear Vice Chair Shelby and Ranking Member Braun, We the undersigned right-of-center organizations and individuals

June 17, 2021 | Dan Lips

Click here to download a PDF of the letter Chairman Hassan, Ranking Member Paul, and Members of the Subcommittee, Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Dan Lips. I am the vice president for national security and government oversight at Lincoln Network, a non-profit organization focused on bridging gaps between the technology

June 1, 2021 | Dan Lips

On Tuesday, Lincoln Network and representatives of eight organizations sent a letter to Chairman Bob Menedez and Ranking Member Jim Risch of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee requesting a hearing on American tech firms supporting digital authoritarianism. The letter cited recent media reports about Apple’s business practices in the People’s Republic of China and the

May 17, 2021 | Zach Graves

Click here to download a PDF of the letter 30 organizations and 11 congressional experts sent a bipartisan letter to House appropriators today calling to restore funding levels for congressional personal office and committee staff, amounting to double-digit percentage increases. The bipartisan letter was organized by the progressive organization Demand Progress and the conservative organization Lincoln

May 13, 2021 | Dan Lips

Click here to download a PDF of the letter Chairman Ryan, Ranking Member Herrera Beutler, and Members of the Subcommittee: My name is Dan Lips. I am the Director of National Security and Government Oversight with the Lincoln Network. I respectfully urge the subcommittee to fully fund the Comptroller General’s FY2020 budget request of $744.3

April 12, 2021 | Ariel Deschapell

Today, Lincoln Network, in conjunction with four other co-authors, submitted formal comments to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in response to the questions posed within the Policy Statement on the Custody of Digital Asset Securities by Special Purpose Broker-Dealers. In our formal comment, we address industry best practices related to custody of digital assets,

March 26, 2021 | Zach Graves

Click here to download a PDF of the letter Chairman Kilmer, Vice Chairman Timmons, and esteemed members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My organization, Lincoln Network, works to bridge the gap between Silicon Valley and DC. This work entails building up and future-proofing our institutions with the capacity they need

February 26, 2021 | Zach Graves

Dear Honorable Majority Leader Schumer, Honorable Minority Leader McConnell, Honorable Chairwoman Klobuchar, and Honorable Ranking Member Blunt: The COVID-19 pandemic, growing economic hardship for many American families, a national reckoning over racial injustice, and the January 6 siege of the Capitol have strained our democracy, underscoring the need for a strong, well-prepared Congress. While democratic