[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8145 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8145

   To amend the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program to 
expand eligibility for financial assistance to include the construction 
   and enhancement of facilities and technological systems aimed at 
     delivering telemedicine services, strengthening cybersecurity 
infrastructure, and supporting distance learning initiatives, including 
  digital literacy, workforce development, and job training, in rural 
                              communities.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 27, 2026

  Mrs. McClain Delaney (for herself and Mr. Bresnahan) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program to 
expand eligibility for financial assistance to include the construction 
   and enhancement of facilities and technological systems aimed at 
     delivering telemedicine services, strengthening cybersecurity 
infrastructure, and supporting distance learning initiatives, including 
  digital literacy, workforce development, and job training, in rural 
                              communities.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Expanding Access to Distance 
Learning and Telemedicine Act''.

SEC. 2. TELEMEDICINE, DISTANCE LEARNING, AND CYBERSECURITY SUPPORT 
              SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS.

    (a) In General.--Section 2333 of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa-2) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``telemedicine and 
        distance learning'' and inserting ``telemedicine, distance 
        learning, and cybersecurity support'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by inserting ``, cybersecurity support,'' 
                before ``and distance''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``including digital literacy, 
                workforce development, and job training'' before ``in 
                rural'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) by inserting ``, cybersecurity 
                                support,'' before ``or distance''; and
                                    (II) by inserting ``, including 
                                digital literacy, workforce 
                                development, and job training'' before 
                                the semicolon; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``to 
                        provide telemedicine service or distance 
                        learning service'' and inserting ``services 
                        described in subparagraph (A)''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``or distance 
                learning'' and inserting ``, cybersecurity support, or 
                distance learning, digital literacy, or workforce 
                development and job training'';
            (4) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (12), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (13), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(14) the need for distance workforce development and job 
        training, including a workforce that supports the building of 
        broadband in rural areas.''; and
            (5) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or distance 
                learning'' and inserting ``distance learning, digital 
                literacy, or cybersecurity'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by inserting ``, cybersecurity 
                        support,'' after ``assistance''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``or'' at the end;
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; or''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) providing distance workforce development and job 
        training, including a workforce that supports the building of 
        broadband in rural areas.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>