E-BRIDGE Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1752) to amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to provide for a high-speed broadband deployment initiative, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 1752.

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

I am very proud to sponsor H.R. 1752, the Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility Act, or the E-BRIDGE Act.

Unfortunately, too many of our communities, particularly in rural Missouri, still lack broadband access.

Broadband is critical for conducting business, for attracting jobs, telehealth, education, and emergency preparedness and response--you name it.

While Economic Development Administration grants can be used to attract jobs to these economically distressed areas, right now, there are hurdles to using these grants for broadband projects, including difficult

last-mile efforts that often delay rural broadband deployment.

This bill removes those hurdles to help connect and revitalize our rural communities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Budget,

Washington, DC, September 27, 2023.

Hon. Sam Graves,

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Graves: I am writing regarding H.R. 1752, the

E-Bridge Act, which was ordered reported by the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure on July 27, 2023.

The bill contains provisions that fall within the

jurisdiction of the Committee on the Budget. In order to

expedite House consideration of H.R. 1752, the Committee on

the Budget will forgo action on this bill. This is being done

with the understanding that it does not waive any

jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in H.R. 1752

or similar legislation and that the Committee will be

appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar

legislation moves forward so that the Committee may address

any remaining issues that fall within its jurisdiction. The

Committee on the Budget also reserves the right to seek

appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any

House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation

and requests your support of any such request.

I would appreciate a response to this letter confirming

this understanding with respect to H.R. 1752 and would ask

that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be

included in your committee report and in the Congressional

Record during floor consideration of H.R. 1752.

Sincerely,

Jodey C. Arrington,

Chairman, Committee on the Budget.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Molinaro).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1752, as well, the E-BRIDGE Act, which creates high-speed broadband opportunities at the Economic Development Administration and for the public, both in rural areas and in inner city, underserved areas. It makes public-private partnerships and consortiums eligible for grant awards.

Without having access to broadband, you can't keep up economically or socially.

Access to reliable high-speed internet is a vital tool for participation in today's workforce and economy. Despite a clear commitment to broadband access across Federal agencies, E-BRIDGE is still necessary.

While the EDA can fund the deployment of broadband infrastructure in communities most in need of assistance, many communities lack the financial and technical resources necessary to apply for these funds.

By clarifying that public-private partnerships and consortiums are eligible, the E-BRIDGE Act enables communities to leverage private sector expertise without disqualifying them from receiving EDA assistance.

The bill provides grant applications with additional flexibility in financing broadband infrastructure projects by clarifying that EDA funds can be combined with other Federal resources and allowing real or personal property to count toward the non-Federal share of a project's costs.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Graves has introduced this legislation in the 116th and 117th Congresses. In the 117th Congress, the bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 410-16.

I support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I thank Mr. Graves for pursuing this legislation again, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as has been discussed, this bill would help close the digital divide and help communities across the country connect to reliable high-speed vital for participation in today's workforce and economy.

In Mr. Graves' own State of Missouri, it would allow people in the bootheel of Missouri to connect so much closer to the city of Memphis, where they will want to come and hear music, eat barbecue, and watch the Cardinals' farm team play baseball.

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

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on March 11, 12, 13, and 19. Had I been present, I would have voted Aye on the following Roll Call votes:

Roll Call No. 79, March 11, 2024: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--H.R. 1752, E-BRIDGE Act; Roll Call No. 80, March 11, 2024: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--H.R. 886, Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act; Roll Call No. 83, March 12, 2024: On Motion to Recommit, H.R. 6276--USE IT Act; Roll Call No. 87, March 19, 2024: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--H.R. 4723, Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement through Sanctions Act; and Roll Call No. 88, March 19, 2024: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- H. Res. 149, Condemning the illegal abduction of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

I would have voted No on the following Roll Call votes:

Roll Call No. 81, March 12, 2024: On Ordering the Previous Question-- H. Res. 1071, Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6276) USE IT Act, and providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1065) denouncing the Biden administration's immigration policies; Roll Call No. 82, March 12, 2024: On Agreeing to the Resolution--H. Res. 1071, Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6276) USE IT Act, and providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1065) denouncing the Biden administration's immigration policies; Roll Call No. 84, March 12, 2024: On Passage--H.R. 6276, USE IT Act; Roll Call No. 85, March 12, 2024: On Agreeing to the Resolution--H. Res. 1065, Denouncing the Biden administration's immigration policies; and Roll Call No. 86, March 13, 2024: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as amended H.R. 7521--Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Graves for yielding. I rise in support of H.R. 1752, the Eliminating Barriers for Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility Act, or E-BRIDGE.

This bill will help to attract and support businesses in rural areas of the country by eliminating barriers to investment in broadband projects and provide these projects with the flexibility needed to be successful.

We all know that access to reliable internet is essential for small businesses, families, and farms, along with schools. It touches all aspects of residential and commercial life.

Yet, too many families and businesses don't have access to high-speed internet, so it is imperative that we work to bridge the digital divide and ensure communities across America, like those in upstate New, York do not get left behind in funding opportunities for broadband expansion.

Without adequate broadband infrastructure, rural communities like those I represent face obstacles in education, healthcare, economic development, and overall social well-being.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill. I am grateful to the chairman and the bipartisan support of the bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on Monday March 11, 2024 due to a Helsinki Commission meeting. Earlier in the day I managed the floor time for both bills and advocated in support of them. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Yea on Roll Call No. 79 (H.R. 1752), and Yea on Roll Call No. 80 (H.R. 886).