Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program Act of 2022

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4275, the ``Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program Act of 2022.''

This bill would increase internet and communications access for low- income consumers by promoting enrollment in the Lifeline Program and Affordable Connectivity Program.

In today's technological age, internet and phone communications have become integral to the ever-growing United States economy and to society overall. Having access to the internet is crucial for all Americans, whether that be for educational purposes, business usage, or contacting friends and family.

Given the rapid development in the technological sector, one might be inclined to believe that high-speed internet access has become even more widespread and easily available to all Americans. However, despite critical developments in high-speed data, the U.S. Census Bureau has indicated that 2.8 million households and 7 million individuals in Texas lack broadband access.

Lack of access to broadband internet has impeded not only Texans, but also Americans nationwide from attending classes, filling job forms, and seeing healthcare providers. For low-income families, lack of internet and communication access acts as an economic barrier, impeding opportunities, furthering the socioeconomic gap, and elevating the risk of eventual poverty.

The Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program Act intends to promote access to broadband internet and phone connectivity by proactively providing low- income Americans the information they need to enroll into either of the two programs.

The Lifeline program helps bring phone service to low-income consumers at a heavily discounted price, allowing them to connect with family, job opportunities, and emergency services. This bill aims to increase enrollment of millions of eligible Americans who suffer from financial barriers.

The Affordable Connective program, like the Lifeline program, helps bring fast, reliable internet access to low-income consumers at discounted prices. After the COVID-19 pandemic, it is obvious how essential online communication has become for modern society to function. Providing access to internet allows for low-income individuals the freedom to explore more opportunities to develop their lives via online education and jobs.

Furthermore, this bill also plans to provide oversight of the enrollment numbers by requiring the Commission to submit annual reports to Congress with enrollment statistics for both programs.

Finally, the Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program Act of 2022 requires that the Comptroller General submit annual reports identifying outreach initiatives that aim to increase awareness of both programs so that potential beneficiaries will take advantage of them.

With this data, Congress can look to refine and expand both programs, creating innovative ways to circumvent lack of internet and phone access.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my fellow Members of Congress to support this bill that is dedicated to the principles of equity and opportunity for all Americans.

Since internet access and phone connectivity are crucial for success and advancement in today's society, we must ensure that everyone is aware of resources that provide these services at subsidized prices, so that, ultimately, internet and phone access are available to everyone.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4275) to provide for certain reports on enrollment in the Lifeline program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4275, the Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program Act of 2022.

Congress has long recognized the critical importance of ensuring that everyone in this country can access basic communication tools. Indeed, this body wisely included as a cornerstone of the Communications Act the directive that rapid, efficient, and nationwide communications service must be available to ``all people of the United States, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex.'' The Communications Act also said that all Americans must have access to adequate facilities and reasonable charges.

There are two programs, the Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program, that play a critical role in helping us advance these long- held, universal service goals. They move us closer to closing the digital divide by allowing millions of American families across the country to fit high-speed broadband internet access into their budgets.

Both programs are effectively targeted to families that need the help most, including those who are eligible for Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income, Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, and the Veterans and Survivors Pension benefit.

As we all know too well, a broadband connection is necessary to participate in our modern economy and society. Families without broadband are left without equal educational, career, healthcare, and economic opportunities compared to those with this essential service.

Continuing to strengthen these programs and make them more efficient and accessible not only benefits those who sign up but all Americans. That is why I support this bipartisan bill introduced by Representatives Luria and Katko. It provides us with more transparency into these programs and can help us better identify opportunities to maximize their support.

I commend Ranking Member Rodgers and Representative Latta for working with me to advance this legislation on a bipartisan basis. It advanced out of the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously in July by a vote of 48-0.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to likewise support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4275.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4275, the Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program Act, which was unanimously reported out of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

The FCC currently administers two subsidy programs to help low-income Americans get connected, the Lifeline program and the Affordable Connectivity Program. The FCC uses criteria such as household income or participation in other Federal subsidy programs to determine eligibility.

The FCC's inspector general identifies fraud and risk in certain qualifying programs, highlighting the importance of congressional oversight.

H.R. 4275 will help provide Congress with important information regarding how low-income Americans qualify for these programs as we continue our oversight duties.

Specifically, this bill will require the FCC to report to Congress on which eligibility criteria Americans use to qualify for the lifeline of affordable connectivity programs. In carrying out this report, the FCC will be limited to using existing data they currently can access to verify eligibility. It also requires the FCC to report on the outreach and publicity efforts to promote enrollment in these programs.

This legislation is an important first step toward oversight of the FCC and its administration of these programs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

General Leave

Madam Speaker, I am not recorded for Roll Call votes No. 481, No. 482, No. 483, No. 484, and No. 485. Had I been present, I would have voted Yes on Roll Call No. 481 En Bloc Suspensions (H.R. 5721, H.R. 7299, H.R. 7277, H.R. 4275, H.R. 6290, H.R. 5502, H.R. 8416); Yes on Roll Call No. 482 (S. 3369); Yes on Roll Call No. 483 (S. 4359); Yes on Roll Call No. 484 (H.R. 2250); and Yes on Roll Call No. 485 (H.R. 3630).

Madam Speaker, pursuant to section 2 of House Resolution 1464, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bills: H.R. 4275, H.R. 5502, H.R. 5721, H.R. 6290, H.R. 7277, H.R. 7299, and