[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4139-S4140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Fetterman, and Mrs. Fischer):
S. 5015. A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to
review and evaluate the processes for updating maps that depict the
extent of the availability of broadband internet access service in the
United States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation.
Mr. Thune. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 5015
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 ``Broadband Mapping Accurate
Providers Act of 2026'' or the ``Broadband MAP Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. MAPPING PROCESS REVIEW AND EVALUATION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Broadband internet access service.--The term
``broadband internet access service'' has the meaning given
the term in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(2) Broadband maps.--The term ``broadband maps'' means the
maps created under section 802(c)(1) of the Communications
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 642(c)(1)).
(3) Broadband serviceable location.--The term ``broadband
serviceable location'' means an area in the United States
where a provider of broadband internet access service
provides, or could provide, broadband internet access
service.
(4) Challenge process.--The term ``challenge process''
means the challenge process established pursuant to section
802(b)(5) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
642(b)(5)).
(5) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(b) Requirement.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall initiate a
rulemaking to review and evaluate the processes for updating
the broadband maps, including the challenge process.
(c) Considerations.--In the rulemaking initiated under
subsection (b), the Commission shall consider--
(1) the relative equities and burdens of any proposed
changes to the broadband maps;
(2) the impact of any proposed changes with respect to the
use of the broadband maps when making funding decisions;
(3) the impact of any changes proposed in that rulemaking
on providers of broadband internet access service; and
(4) ongoing Commission efforts relating to broadband
mapping, the restoration of broadband serviceable locations,
and the challenge process.
______
By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse):
S. 5018. A bill to approve certain requests for a major disaster
declaration, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, today, I am introducing the Disaster Relief
Fairness Act, along with Senator Whitehouse. This bill would approve
major disaster declarations requested under the Trump administration
for incidents that meet or exceed FEMA's damage thresholds. I wish that
this bill was not needed, but it is because President Trump has chosen
to block disaster assistance based on political partisanship.
According to the Urban Institute, roughly 84 percent of disaster
requests from States that voted for President Trump in 2024 have been
approved under this administration, compared to just 42 percent from
States that voted for Kamala Harris. Further, POLITOCO reported that
Republican-led States have waited 39 days on average for a decision
compared to the 80-day average for Democratic-led states.
This winter, Rhode Island was struck by the largest blizzard in State
history. Over 3 feet of snow fell on the State in a 24-hour period--the
highest 1-day snowfall on record for Rhode Island. The storm hit Rhode
Island with the
[[Page S4140]]
intensity of a category 2 hurricane, with heavy winds up to 74 miles
per hour. It caused widespread power outages and tragically resulted in
two fatalities and hundreds of emergency room visits. Local businesses
faced prolonged closures due to disruptions to transportation,
utilities, and public services across the State.
Following the storm, the State of Rhode Island worked with FEMA to
develop a preliminary damage assessment of the storm's impact. The
assessment found over $19 million in damages, amounting to more than
nine times the threshold required for a major disaster declaration.
Under any other administration, this disaster declaration would have
been approved on the merits, given its historic nature and FEMA's own
damage assessment. However, after months of waiting, on July 2, 2026,
President Trump denied the request from Rhode Island with no
explanation. On the same day Trump denied Rhode Island's request, he
also denied requests from New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts that
all reportedly exceeded FEMA's damage thresholds. Yet, that same week,
he approved disaster aid for six Republican-led States.
Disaster aid and helping communities recover from deadly storms
should never be political. Yet President Trump's record proves that he
cannot be trusted to adjudicate disaster money fairly without invoking
his own partisan biases. The Disaster Relief Fairness Act would address
that problem by granting all disaster declarations requested between
January 20, 2025 and January 20, 2029 that meet the Federal
requirements and thresholds for assistance. This will help ensure that
States and Tribes get the relief they need--regardless of who they
voted for--and allow them to fully recover from disasters.
I urge my colleagues to join Senator Whitehouse and me in supporting
this legislation.
______
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Cassidy):
S. 5020. A bill to require a study on manufactured homes in areas at
high risk of natural hazards and weather extremes; to the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of my
legislation to require a study on how to improve the resiliency of
manufactured homes in areas that are at high risk of natural hazards
and weather extremes, which I introduced today.
More than 22 million Americans, most of whom earn less than the
median national income, call manufactured housing home. These homes are
significantly less expensive than traditional site-built homes and will
play a key part in how we address our country's affordable housing
crisis and increase home ownership.
I was proud to work with my colleagues across the aisle to pass the
21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which includes provisions to increase
the supply of America's manufactured housing. Yet manufactured housing
is disproportionately located in areas that are the most exposed to
climate hazards. As we continue to see a pattern of increased extreme
climate events, we need all our housing to be resilient in areas at
high risk of natural hazards and weather extremes.
Congress should be aware of what strategies industry leaders are
currently employing and understand potential options to increase the
performance of manufactured homes in high-risk areas.
I want to thank my colleague Senator Cassidy for introducing this
bill with me. I hope our colleagues will join us in taking a step
towards improving the resiliency of our nation's housing stock.
____________________