S. 3587 – Connect Unserved Americans Act of 2022

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 9:14 AM UTC

The Connect Unserved Americans Act of 2022 changes how federal money is allocated for the Rural Utilities Service’s distance‑learning, telemedicine, and broadband program. It raises the required share of funding from 50 percent to 80 percent, and adds the Treasury Department to the list of agencies that coordinate the distribution of broadband deployment funds. The bill applies to the Rural Utilities Service, the Treasury, and any entities that receive these program funds, such as schools, health providers, and broadband providers in rural areas.

Key Provisions

Increases the funding share for the distance‑learning, telemedicine, and broadband program from 50 percent to 80 percent.
Amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act to include the Department of the Treasury as a coordinating agency for broadband deployment funds.
Requires the covered agencies to put the new funding and coordination rules into effect within 30 days of the law’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S547)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

February 7, 2022

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 7, 2022

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S547)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

February 7, 2022

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 3587 on the floor

1 Republican

Sen. John ThuneR-SD · Feb 7, 2022

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. John ThuneR-SD · Feb 7, 2022

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 7, 2022

II

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3587

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 7 (legislative day, February 3), 2022

Mr. Thune (for himself, Ms. Smith, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Casey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To modify conditions of funding for the distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program of the Rural Utilities Service, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Connect Unserved Americans Act of 2022.

2.

Distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58) is amended in the third proviso under the heading distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program under the heading Rural Utilities Service under the heading rural development programs under the heading Department of Agriculture in title I of division J by striking 50 percent and inserting 80 percent.

3.

Coordination with Treasury Department on distribution of broadband deployment funds

(a)

In general

Section 904(b) of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (47 U.S.C. 1308(b)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)(A)—

(A)

in clause (ii), by striking and at the end; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(iv)

the Department of the Treasury; and

; and

(2)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end;

(B)

in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(D)

the programs administered by the Department of the Treasury.

.

(b)

Deadline

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the covered agencies (as defined in section 904(b) of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (47 U.S.C. 1308(b)), as amended by subsection (a) of this section) shall implement the amendments made by subsection (a) of this section.