G. &. House of Representatives Washington, B. €. 20515 November 25, 2014 ‘The Honorable Manfred Weber The Honorable Guy Verhofstadt Parlement européen Parlement européen Bat. Altiero Spinelli Bat, Paul-Henri Spaak 0SH359 SSCOLL 60, rue Wiertz./ Wiertzstraat 60 60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60 B-1047 Bruxelles/Brusse! B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel ‘The Honorable Gianni Pittella ‘The Honorable Syed Kamal Parlement européen Parlement européen Bat. Atrium Bat. Willy Brandt 05K002 06M099 60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60 60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60 B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel Dear Messrs. Weber, Pittella, Verhofstadt and Kamall, We have read with great concern that the European Parliament intends to consider a resolution that would deter continued innovation and investment from U.S. based Internet companies. As elected representatives who represent tech corridors around the United States, we have seen first-hand the transformative impact of online based services, including e-mail, social media and search on our society and the economy. Through cross-border data flows, millions around the world have experienced these same benefits. In fact, by one account, online intermediaries, many of which are U.S. based companies were responsible for contributing more than $500 billion to the GDP of the EU27 in 2012. Cumulatively, U.S. firms have invested $2.1 trillion in the EU. Its therefore troubling to us that the European Parliament is suggesting an action that would stem cross-border data flows at the expense of millions of people across Europe who enjoy the use of these online services every day. We support healthy competition and a fair playing field for Internet companies in the U.S. and around the globe and we believe these goals can be accomplished through the traditional regulatory process. Thank you for your consideration of our views and your commitment to a vibrant, open Intemet and the free flow of information around the globe. Sincerely, Ce ~~ Anna G. Eshoo Jason Chraffetz Member of Congress Member of CongressFee Lifer Member of Congress ° Polis! lember of Congress tuilu Yad Mike Honda Member of Congress S Member df Congress G Eric Swalwel Member of Congress Darrell Issa Member of Congress Member of Cofigress oe Faull Member of Congress Roskam smber of Congress e Holding Member of Congress(ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS Congress of the Wnited States House of Representatives COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY 2128 Ravauen House Orie BULONG “Sisco wcwacn Wastingron, DC 20515-6216 (202) 225-3951 repani nese pevuteny ‘Novemnber 25, 2014 Manfred Weber Chair Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) Parlement européen Bit. Altiero Spinelli 051359 60, rue Wiertz./ Wiertzstraat 60 B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel Guy Verhofstadt Chair Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Parlement européen Bat, Paul-Henri Spaak S5C011 60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60 B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel David Mcallister Chairman, EU-US delegation ‘Member, Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) Parlement européen Bat. Altiero Spinelli 14E140 60, ruc Wiertz / Wicrtzstraat 60 B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel Gianni Pittella Chair Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament ° Parlement européen Bat. Atrium 03sK002 60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60 B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel ‘Syed Kamall Chair European Conservatives and Reformists Group Parlement européen Bat. Willy Brandt 06M099 60, rue Wiertz,/ Wiertzstraat 60 B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel Jeppe Kofod Vice-Chair, EU-US delegation Member, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament Parlement européen Bat. Altiero Spinelli 11G130 60, ruc Wiertz./ Wiertzstraat 60 B-1047 Braxelles/BrusselMarietje Schaake Vice-Chair, EU-US delegation Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Demoerats for Europe Parlement européen Bat. Altiero Spinelli 08G253 60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60 B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel Dear Sirs and Madams: Protecting an open marketplace with free competition among market participants, domestic and abroad, has long been one of the pillars of United States antitrust enforcement efforts, We recognize that transparent, fair, predictable, and fact and legal-based antitrust enforcement yields innovation and creativity that benefit free markets and consumers alike. ‘The United States consistently strives to enforce ouf antitrust laws in this manner and, as elected representatives, it is one of our duties to ensure that our antitrust enforcement agencies uphold these principles in their enforcement efforts. We also encourage our antitrust enforcement agencies to advocate for these antitrust principles with our international allies, including the European Union. We were therefore troubled to team that some European elected representatives are encouraging antitrust enforcement efforts that appear to be motivated by politics, rather than grounded in factual and legal principles. We believe that antitrust enforcement should be applied independent of politics and firmly rooted in our shared international principles. Policies that run counter to these principles undermine our free markets and ultimately harm both our businesses and our consumers, We urge you to continue to advocate for our shared principles of transparent, fair, predictable, and fact and legal-based antitrust enforcement. We look forward to continue working together on these important goals. Siggsgely, Bob Goodlatte Chairman USS. House Judiciary Committee