[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5886 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5886
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program
to make grants available to States to inform Medicaid enrollees, SNAP
participants, and low-income residents of potential eligibility for the
Affordable Connectivity and Lifeline programs of the Commission, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 3, 2023
Ms. Kelly of Illinois introduced the following bill
October 25, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program
to make grants available to States to inform Medicaid enrollees, SNAP
participants, and low-income residents of potential eligibility for the
Affordable Connectivity and Lifeline programs of the Commission, and
for other purposes.
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 ``Promoting Access to Broadband Act of
2023''.
SEC. 2. AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY AND LIFELINE ENROLLMENT OUTREACH
GRANTS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(2) Covered individuals.--The term ``covered individuals''
means--
(A) Medicaid enrollees;
(B) SNAP participants; and
(C) low-income residents.
(3) Covered program.--The term ``covered program'' means--
(A) the Affordable Connectivity Program established
under section 904(b) of division N of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021 (47 U.S.C. 1752(b)), or any
successor program; and
(B) the Lifeline program established under subpart
E of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations,
or any successor regulation.
(4) Eligible-but-not-enrolled.--The term ``eligible-but-
not-enrolled'' means, with respect to an individual, that the
individual is eligible for, but is not enrolled in, a covered
program.
(5) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term ``Indian tribe'' in section 4 of the
Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act
of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103).
(6) Low-income.--The term ``low-income'' means a gross
annual income that qualifies a household for participation in a
covered program.
(7) Medicaid enrollee.--The term ``Medicaid enrollee''
means, with respect to a State, an individual enrolled in the
State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or a waiver of that plan.
(8) Reach.--The term ``reach'' means, with respect to an
individual, to inform the individual of potential eligibility
for a covered program and to provide the individual with
information about the covered program, as described in
subsection (e).
(9) SNAP participant.--The term ``SNAP participant'' means
an individual who is a member of a household that participates
in the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
(10) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth,
territory, or possession of the United States, and each Indian
Tribe.
(b) Establishment.--The Commission shall establish a competitive
program to make grants available to States to inform covered
individuals of potential eligibility for a covered program.
(c) Application.--
(1) In general.--The Commission may only award a grant
under this section to a State that submits an application at
such time, in such form, and with such information and
assurances as the Commission may require.
(2) Matters required to be included.--An application
submitted by a State under paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) the number of covered individuals in the State;
(B) a plan for the activities that the State will
conduct using grant funds, including a list of each
agency within the State that will assist in carrying
out those activities; and
(C) an estimate of the percentage of eligible-but-
not-enrolled individuals in the State who will be
reached by those activities.
(d) Selection.--
(1) Minimum of 5 states.--The Commission shall award grants
under this section to not fewer than 5 States.
(2) Factors for consideration.--In awarding grants under
this section, the Commission shall give favorable
consideration--
(A) to States that have higher numbers of covered
individuals; and
(B) to States proposing, in the plans submitted
under subsection (c)(2)(B), to conduct activities that
have the potential to reach higher percentages of
eligible-but-not-enrolled individuals in those States,
as determined by the Commission, taking into
consideration the estimates submitted under subsection
(c)(2)(C).
(3) Geographic diversity.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Commission shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, select States from different geographic regions of
the United States.
(e) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--A State that receives a grant under this
section shall use grant funds, in accordance with the plan
included in the application of the State under subsection
(c)(2)(B), to--
(A) inform covered individuals and organizations or
agencies that serve those individuals, as the case may
be under the terms of the grant awarded to the State,
of potential eligibility for a covered program;
(B) provide those covered individuals with
information about covered programs, including--
(i) how to apply for a covered program; and
(ii) a description of the prohibition on
more than 1 subscriber in each household
receiving a service provided under a covered
program; and
(C) partner with nonprofit and community-based
organizations to provide those covered individuals with
assistance applying for a covered program and
information about product and technology choices.
(2) Multiple state agencies.--A State that receives a grant
under this section may provide grant funds to 1 or more
agencies located within the State, as identified under
subsection (c)(2)(B), to carry out the activities under the
grant.
(f) Outreach to States Regarding Grant Program.--Before accepting
applications for the grant program established under this section, the
Commission shall conduct outreach to States to ensure that States are
aware of the grant program and how to apply for a grant under the grant
program.
(g) Regulations Required.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations to
implement this section.
(h) Enforcement.--A violation of this section or a regulation
promulgated under this section shall be treated as a violation of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) or a regulation
promulgated under such Act. The Commission shall enforce this section
and the regulations promulgated under this section in the same manner,
by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties
as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Communications Act
of 1934 were incorporated into and made a part of this section.
(i) Exemptions.--
(1) Certain rulemaking requirements.--Section 553 of title
5, United States Code, shall not apply to a regulation
promulgated under this section or a rulemaking proceeding to
promulgate such a regulation.
(2) Paperwork reduction act requirements.--A collection of
information conducted or sponsored under the regulations
required under this section shall not constitute a collection
of information for the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 35
of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the
``Paperwork Reduction Act'').
(j) Report to Congress.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after establishing
the grant program under this section, the Commission shall
submit to Congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of the
grant program.
(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include--
(A) the number of individuals notified of covered
program eligibility by States receiving grants under
this section;
(B) the number of new applicants to a covered
program from States receiving grants under this
section, including the number of those applicants who
enrolled in a covered program; and
(C) the cost-effectiveness of the grant program
established under this section.
(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Commission such sums as may be necessary to carry
out this section for the first 5 full fiscal years beginning after the
establishment of the grant program under this section.
SEC. 3. GRANTS TO STATES TO STRENGTHEN NATIONAL LIFELINE ELIGIBILITY
VERIFIER.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
State that, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, submits to the Commission an application for a
grant under this section containing such information as the
Commission may require.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth,
territory, or possession of the United States, and each
federally recognized Indian Tribe.
(b) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall establish a program to
provide a grant, from amounts appropriated under subsection (e), to
each eligible entity for the purpose described in subsection (c).
(c) Purpose.--The Commission shall make a grant to each eligible
entity for the purpose of establishing, renewing, reestablishing, or
maintaining or amending a connection between the databases of the
eligible entity that contain information concerning the receipt by a
household, or a member of a household, of benefits under a program
administered by the eligible entity (including any benefit provided
under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.)) and the National
Lifeline Eligibility Verifier so that the receipt by a household, or a
member of a household, of benefits under the benefits program--
(1) is reflected in the National Lifeline Eligibility
Verifier; and
(2) can be used to verify eligibility for--
(A) the Lifeline program established under subpart
E, part 54, of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations,
or any successor regulation; and
(B) the Affordable Connectivity Program established
under section 904(b) of division N of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021 (47 U.S.C. 1752(b)), or any
successor program.
(d) Disbursement of Grant Funds.--Not later than 120 days after the
date on which the Commission establishes the program under subsection
(b), funds provided under each grant made under such subsection shall
be disbursed to the eligible entity receiving such grant.
(e) Authorization of Appropriation.--There is authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
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