[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 187 (Thursday, November 21, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CLOSING THE HOMEWORK GAP THROUGH MOBILE HOTSPOTS ACT

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                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 21, 2019

  Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, an estimated 12 million school-aged children 
lack broadband at home. 12 million students--this is a startling 
number. Before the internet became ubiquitous, students completed their 
homework with pencil and paper. This is no longer the case. Today, many 
students have homework that requires internet for research or to ask 
their teachers questions. If a student does not have that, they must 
find a venue that provides free Wi-Fi, like libraries, cafes, or other 
public venues.
   Unfortunately, some of these locations are not conducive to a study 
environment. They may be noisy or have time restrictions on internet 
use at a computer kiosk. Furthermore, students, then must find 
transportation to and from such establishments, creating additional 
barriers to education for the students and their families. This is a 
modern-day travesty that must end.
   That is why I am introducing the ``Closing the Homework Gap Through 
Mobile Hotspots Act''--a bill that would create a $100 million grant 
program for libraries, schools, the territories, and federally 
recognized Indian Tribes to build and sustain mobile hotspot programs 
to close the ``homework gap.''
   Many schools and libraries have already created mobile hotspot 
programs to help students who do not have broadband at home. 
Essentially, students can ``check-out'' or borrow these mobile hotspots 
from their schools or local libraries for a set period of time. Funds 
for such programs, however, may lapse after a few years or when funding 
is eliminated. My bill will ensure this does not happen and our 
students have internet to complete their assignments.
   Madam Speaker, the Closing the Homework Gap Through Mobile Hotspots 
Act is a critical bill that will help close the digital divide and 
address the homework gap. Every child deserves their best chance at 
pursuing education. For the sake of our children, I urge all my 
colleagues to support this timely, and necessary bill.

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