S. 979
Referred to CommitteeA bill to amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 to authorize additional funds for the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund, to provide grants to States and Tribal Entities to strengthen the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, to provide for Federal coordination between the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier and the National Accuracy Clearinghouse, and for other purposes.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
3/25/2021 • Senate
Summary
This bill makes changes to facilitate data sharing between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and programs that subsidize communication services to verify eligibility for applicable programs.
Specifically, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must award grants to states and tribes for establishing or modifying connections between databases with information regarding benefit programs (e.g., SNAP) and the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier to verify eligibility for the Lifeline program (which subsidizes telephone and internet services for low-income individuals) and the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (which subsidizes broadband services for those who suffered income loss during the COVID-19 pandemic and other eligible households). The bill also reauthorizes through FY2026 the fund that supports the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.
In addition, the FCC must establish an automated connection to share data between the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier and the National Accuracy Clearinghouse for SNAP. The FCC must coordinate with the Department of Agriculture to establish the connection.
Introduced in Senate • 3/25/2021
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Sponsor & Cosponsors (16)
Party Breakdown
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Cosponsors (15)
Bill Journey
Originated in the Senate
Introduced
March 25, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Committee Review
Floor Debate
Passed Chamber
Other Chamber
President
Enacted into Law
Text Versions (1)
Related Bills (4)
H.R. 1783
Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act
S. 745
Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act
H.R. 1848
LIFT America Act
H.R. 1721
To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 to authorize additional funds for the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund, to provide grants to States and Tribal Entities to strengthen the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, to provide for Federal coordination between the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier and the National Accuracy Clearinghouse, and for other purposes.