[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 12, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5960-H5961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            COMPUTERS FOR VETERANS AND STUDENTS ACT OF 2022

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3544) to require the Administrator of 
General Services to transfer certain surplus computers and technology 
equipment to nonprofit computer refurbishers for repair, distribution, 
and return, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3544

       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 ``Computers for Veterans and 
     Students Act of 2022'' or the ``COVS Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Access to computers and computer technology is 
     indispensable for success in the 21st century. Millions of 
     Americans do not regularly use a computer and research shows 
     that substantial disparities remain in both internet use and 
     the quality of access with the digital divide concentrated 
     among older, less educated, less affluent populations, 
     especially veterans, low-income students, and senior 
     citizens.
       (2) The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the gap between 
     those with computer access and those without. Millions of 
     students, their families, and workers from across the economy 
     were unable to do schoolwork, work remotely from home, or 
     connect to loved ones and their communities because of the 
     digital divide.
       (3) Any Federal program that distributes surplus Federal 
     computers to a public school, an educational nonprofit, or a 
     nonprofit computer refurbisher for repair and distribution 
     would benefit from a partnership with a nonprofit 
     organization, whose mission is bridging the digital divide.

     SEC. 3. REFURBISHMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS COMPUTERS 
                   AND TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT.

       (a) GSA Transfer.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after State 
     agencies for surplus property have been given an opportunity 
     to review surplus computer or technology equipment that has 
     been determined to be repairable, the Administrator shall 
     transfer to participating nonprofit computer refurbishers 
     such equipment with full title to such equipment, for repair 
     and distribution in accordance with subsection (c)(1).
       (2) Information on equipment refurbished.--A nonprofit 
     computer refurbisher that receives surplus computer or 
     technology equipment under this subsection shall provide the 
     Administrator with any information the Administrator 
     determines to be necessary for required reporting, including 
     information about the distribution of such equipment.
       (b) Partnership.--The Administrator may establish a 
     partnership with non-governmental entities, at no cost, to--
       (1) facilitate the identification of nonprofit computer 
     refurbishers and the distribution of surplus computer or 
     technology equipment under this section; and
       (2) facilitate the participation of nonprofit computer 
     refurbishers under this section.
       (c) Repair and Distribution.--
       (1) Distribution to bridge the digital divide.--A nonprofit 
     computer refurbisher that receives equipment under subsection 
     (a) shall repair and distribute such equipment to an 
     educational institution, a veteran, an individual with a 
     disability, a low-income individual, a student, or a senior 
     in need that is residing or based in the United States.
       (2) Training programs.--Any nonprofit computer refurbisher 
     that receives any equipment under subsection (a) shall offer 
     training programs on the use of computers and technology 
     equipment for any of the following:
       (A) Educational institutions.
       (B) Veterans.
       (C) Individuals with disabilities.
       (D) Low-income individuals.
       (E) Students.
       (F) Seniors.
       (d) Reports Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter 
     for the next 4 years, the Administrator shall submit to 
     Congress a report on the efforts of the Administrator under 
     this Act.
       (e) Agency Reports.--Not later than 5 years after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     head of each Federal agency shall make a report available to 
     the public on the number of repairable computers that were 
     sent to recycling, abandoned, or destroyed.
       (f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed to supersede the requirements of the Stevenson-
     Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-480; 
     15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.).
       (g) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of General Services.
       (2) Digital divide.--The term ``digital divide'' means the 
     gap between those who have an internet-connected computer and 
     the skills to use the computer and those who do not.
       (3) Educational institution.--The term ``educational 
     institution'' means--
       (A) any public or private child care center, preschool, 
     elementary school, secondary school, accredited institution 
     of vocational or professional education, or institution of 
     higher education;
       (B) in the case of an accredited institution of vocational 
     or professional education or an institution of higher 
     education composed of more than one school, college, or 
     department that is administratively a separate unit, each 
     such school, college, or department; and
       (C) a home school (whether treated as a home school or a 
     private school for purposes of applicable State law).
       (4) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' has the 
     meaning given the term ``federal agency'' in section 102 of 
     title 40, United States Code.
       (5) Disability.--The term ``disability'' has the meaning 
     given that term in section 3 of the Americans with 
     Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).
       (6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001).
       (7) Low-income individuals.--The term ``low income 
     individual'' has the meaning given such term in section 351 
     of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 689).
       (8) Nonprofit computer refurbisher.--The term ``nonprofit 
     computer refurbisher'' means a nonprofit organization that 
     primarily works to improve access to information and 
     communication technology in their mission to bridge the 
     digital divide.
       (9) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit 
     organization'' means an organization that is described under 
     section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is 
     exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
       (10) Repairable.--The term ``repairable'' means property 
     that is unusable in its current state but can be economically 
     repaired.
       (11) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 8101 of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
       (12) Senior.--The term ``senior'' means an individual who 
     is 65 years of age or older.
       (13) Senior in need.--The term ``senior in need'' means a 
     senior who experiences cultural, social, or geographical 
     isolation that--
       (A) restricts the ability of the senior to perform normal 
     daily tasks; or
       (B) threatens the capacity of the senior to live 
     independently.
       (14) State agency for surplus property.--The term ``State 
     agency for surplus property'' has the meaning given the term 
     ``state agency'' under section 549 of title 40, United States 
     Code.
       (15) Student.--The term ``student'' means any individual 
     enrolled in an educational institution, but not a public or 
     private child care center.
       (16) Surplus computer or technology equipment.--The term 
     ``surplus computer or technology equipment'' means computer 
     or technology equipment that is property described under 
     section 549(b)(2) of title 40, United States Code.
       (17) Technology equipment.--The term ``technology 
     equipment'' means any physical asset related to a computer or 
     information technology, including any peripheral component, 
     tablet, communication device (such as a router, server, or 
     cell phone), printer, scanner, uninterruptible power source, 
     cable, or connection.
       (18) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
       (h) Regulations.--The Administrator may issue regulations 
     that are necessary and appropriate to implement this section.

     SEC. 4. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Keller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.

[[Page H5961]]

  



                             General Leave

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3544, the Computers for 
Veterans and Students Act.
  Technology pervades every aspect of modern life, and the gulf between 
those who have access to technology and those who do not continues to 
widen. Today, millions of Americans still lack access to home-based, 
internet-connected computers and technology equipment. In fact, 
according to the Census Bureau, only 78 percent of households in the 
U.S. owned a desktop or laptop computer in 2018, leaving tens of 
millions of households without the resources that are essential for 
success in the modern economy.
  These disparities were made worse by the coronavirus pandemic, 
especially among veterans, low-income students, and seniors. This 
digital divide has tangible, life-changing, and often heartbreaking 
consequences, preventing people of all ages from completing schoolwork, 
working remotely, or connecting with their loved ones.
  H.R. 3544 will help address these disparities by ensuring surplus 
Federal computers find their way to the households that need them most.
  The bill requires the General Services Administration to transfer 
surplus computer and technology equipment from Federal agencies to 
nonprofit computer refurbishers to repair and distribute to students 
and educational institutions, low-income individuals, individuals with 
disabilities, veterans, and seniors in need.
  The bill also requires these refurbishers to offer relevant computer 
and technology training to recipients, further reducing barriers 
presented by the digital divide.
  I thank Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger for leading this important 
bipartisan legislation, along with Representatives  Rob Wittman and 
Elaine Luria. Representative Spanberger worked tirelessly to bring the 
voices of veterans and students in her district here to the Halls of 
Congress as she wrote and championed this bill.
  For those who lack access to internet-connected computers and the 
skills to use them, H.R. 3544 will unlock doors to new opportunities. 
It will also bring a greater return on investment for the American 
taxpayer, ensuring Federal information technology assets are used to 
their full potential in the fight to close the digital divide.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important bill, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of 
technology to all Americans. Access to computers and computer 
technology is necessary for success in the modern world. This became 
even more critical during the height of the pandemic when many 
Americans struggled to juggle Zoom meetings and help their children 
with remote school.
  That is why this bill is important. It will help Americans get the 
access they need.
  H.R. 3544, the Computers for Veterans and Students Act, will 
repurpose surplus Federal IT equipment to help American veterans, 
students, disabled individuals, low-income households, seniors in need, 
and educational institutions of all kinds.
  H.R. 3544 requires the General Services Administration to transfer 
computers and tech equipment in need of repair to nonprofit computer 
refurbishers. These third-party refurbishers will then repair and 
distribute the IT equipment directly to veterans, students, and others 
in need.
  The bill also obligates these third-party refurbishers to offer 
training programs on the use of the technology being distributed.
  Those with access to computers and an understanding of how to use 
technology can enjoy many benefits, but a lack of such access and 
understanding presents significant challenges. Americans need to be 
able to conduct online research for a school project, connect with 
loved ones, or find and keep a steady job.
  I appreciate Representatives Abigail Spanberger and  Rob Wittman for 
their leadership on this legislation. I encourage my colleagues to help 
our Nation's veterans and students by supporting H.R. 3544.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I note that Congress is expected to pay tribute to veterans when we 
honor retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Hershel ``Woody'' Williams. 
Woody, the last surviving World War II veteran who received a Medal of 
Honor, will lie in honor this week in the U.S. Capitol.
  In the spirit of that event, let us pay tribute to all those who have 
served our Nation and all those who will serve our Nation in the 
future.
  Instead of letting technology that American taxpayers have already 
invested in go to waste, the bipartisan Computers for Veterans and 
Students Act will get such repairable government technology into the 
lives of Americans in need.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of 
H.R. 3544, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3544, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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