[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 175 (Monday, November 14, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8471-H8472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ENSURING PHONE AND INTERNET ACCESS THROUGH LIFELINE AND AFFORDABLE 
                    CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM ACT OF 2022

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4275) to provide for certain reports on enrollment in the 
Lifeline program, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4275

       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 ``Ensuring Phone and Internet 
     Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program 
     Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. REPORTS ON ENROLLMENT IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS.

       (a) Annual Report on Enrollment in Lifeline and Affordable 
     Connectivity Programs Through Qualifying Programs.--Not later 
     than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
     annually thereafter for 2 calendar years after the calendar 
     year during which the first report is submitted under this 
     subsection, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report 
     on--
       (1) enrollment in the Lifeline program by individuals 
     participating in each of the Lifeline qualifying programs, 
     broken out by each of the Lifeline qualifying programs, to 
     the extent the Commission holds or has access to the 
     necessary data relating to such enrollment; and
       (2) enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program by 
     individuals participating in each of the Affordable 
     Connectivity Program qualifying programs, broken out by each 
     of the Affordable Connectivity Program qualifying programs, 
     to the extent the Commission holds or has access to the 
     necessary data relating to such enrollment.
       (b) GAO Study and Report on Efforts To Promote Enrollment 
     in Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Programs.--Not later 
     than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a 
     report to Congress identifying outreach and publicity efforts 
     to promote participation and enrollment in the Lifeline 
     program and, separately, the Affordable Connectivity Program.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Affordable connectivity program qualifying program.--
     The term ``Affordable Connectivity Program qualifying 
     program'' means the programs set forth in paragraphs (1), 
     (3), (4), and (6) of section 54.1800(j) of title 47, Code of 
     Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
       (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
     Communications Commission.
       (3) Lifeline qualifying program.--The term ``Lifeline 
     qualifying program'' means the programs set forth in 
     subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 54.409 of title 47, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4275, the Ensuring 
Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity 
Program Act of 2022.
  Congress has long recognized the critical importance of ensuring that 
everyone in this country can access basic communication tools. Indeed, 
this body wisely included as a cornerstone of the Communications Act 
the directive that rapid, efficient, and nationwide communications 
service must be available to ``all people of the United States, without 
discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, 
or sex.'' The Communications Act also said that all Americans must have 
access to adequate facilities and reasonable charges.
  There are two programs, the Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity 
Program, that play a critical role in helping us advance these long-
held, universal service goals. They move us closer to closing the 
digital divide by allowing millions of American families across the 
country to fit high-speed broadband internet access into their budgets.
  Both programs are effectively targeted to families that need the help 
most, including those who are eligible for Medicaid, the Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs General Assistance, and the Veterans and Survivors 
Pension benefit.
  As we all know too well, a broadband connection is necessary to 
participate in our modern economy and society. Families without 
broadband are left without equal educational, career, healthcare, and 
economic opportunities compared to those with this essential service.
  Continuing to strengthen these programs and make them more efficient 
and accessible not only benefits those who sign up but all Americans. 
That is why I support this bipartisan bill introduced by 
Representatives Luria and Katko. It provides us with more transparency 
into these programs and can help us better identify opportunities to 
maximize their support.
  I commend Ranking Member Rodgers and Representative Latta for working 
with me to advance this legislation on a bipartisan basis. It advanced 
out of the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously in July by a vote 
of 48-0.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to likewise support this 
bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4275, the Ensuring Phone 
and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity 
Program Act, which was unanimously reported out of the Energy and 
Commerce Committee.
  The FCC currently administers two subsidy programs to help low-income 
Americans get connected, the Lifeline program and the Affordable 
Connectivity Program. The FCC uses criteria such as household income or 
participation in other Federal subsidy programs to determine 
eligibility.
  The FCC's inspector general identifies fraud and risk in certain 
qualifying programs, highlighting the importance of congressional 
oversight.

                              {time}  1615

  H.R. 4275 will help provide Congress with important information 
regarding how low-income Americans qualify for these programs as we 
continue our oversight duties.
  Specifically, this bill will require the FCC to report to Congress on 
which eligibility criteria Americans use to qualify for the lifeline of 
affordable connectivity programs. In carrying out this report, the FCC 
will be limited to using existing data they currently can access to 
verify eligibility. It also requires the FCC to report on the outreach 
and publicity efforts to promote enrollment in these programs.
  This legislation is an important first step toward oversight of the 
FCC and its administration of these programs.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 4275.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?

[[Page H8472]]

  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4275, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________