House Rules Considers Reconciliation Measure With E-rate
The House Rules Committee was meeting Friday afternoon to consider amendments and set up a floor schedule for the American Rescue Plan Act COVID-19 budget reconciliation package (HR-1319), which includes $7.6 billion for E-rate remote learning (see 2102100061). Three proposed…
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amendments deal with telecom issues, though only one would seek to modify HR-1319’s E-rate funding language. House Rules ranking member Tom Cole of Oklahoma and other Republicans continued to oppose the measure. House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., highlighted E-rate during the hearing as part of “assistance for struggling families.” The funding is needed to “expand internet connectivity to help students and teachers without home internet service,” Pallone said. Republicans “are serious about working on a timely, targeted” pandemic relief package, but Commerce’s part of HR-1319 doesn’t measure up, said committee ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington. She complained that Commerce didn’t consider its proposals “through regular order” and that Democrats voted down GOP amendments (see 2102120066). One committee-level proposal would have restricted E-rate to schools and libraries that have fully reopened. Another would have redirected the money to an NTIA pilot to fund “covered partnerships” for broadband projects. House Commerce Committee member Rep. Greg Pence, R-Ind., proposed an amendment to require the FCC to “establish a priority system that prioritizes” E-rate for schools and libraries in unserved and rural areas. A proposal led by House Agriculture Committee ranking member Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., would allocate $800 million for USDA broadband programs; $300 million would go to the distance learning and telemedicine program. The Broadband Access Loan program would also get $300 million. The Community Connect and Middle Mile programs would each get $100 million. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, sought an amendment to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to “clarify strategies to overcome existing barriers and increase access to telehealth under the Medicaid program.”