Senate Appropriations Committee
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill
The Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides $26.228 billion in total funding. The bill would provide $169,959,000 for US Department of Agriculture broadband programs including:
- $40 million for Distance learning and telemedicine (DLT) grants
- $9.6 million for Congressionally Directed Spending/earmarked DLT grants
- $90 million for ReConnect Loans and Grants
- $10.4 million for Reconnect earmarks
- $20 million for Community Connect Grants
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill
The Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act provides a total of $68.537 billion in discretionary funding. The bill provides $10.8 billion for the Department of Commerce.
Financial Services and General Government Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill
The Financial Services and General Government fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill provides $16.95 billion to fund the operations of more than two dozen independent federal agencies including:
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture Bill
The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved, on a 28-0 vote, the fiscal year 2024 Agriculture bill. The committee provides $98 million for the ReConnect program at the Department of Agriculture. The committee again reminds USDA that funding should not be used in areas that are already largely served and should be focused in areas where at least 90% of households lack access. In doing so, the committee intends that USDA
Remarks of Commerce Secretary Raimondo to Senate Appropriations Committee on Broadband Programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
"I’m grateful for the opportunity to update you on our progress as we prepare to launch these programs in a little more than 100 days," said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to the Senate Appropriations Committee in a February 1 hearing on expanding broadband access through programs established in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Agriculture Bill with $700 Million for USDA's ReConnect Program
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved several fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills with strong bipartisan support. The Fiscal Year 2022 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill was reported out of Committee on a vote of 25 to 5. If the bill becomes law, the USDA's ReConnect broadband program would receive $700 million. The program will expand access to high-speed broadband to remote unserved and underserved rural areas.
Department of Commerce Budget Advances in Senate
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) approved a $70.833 billion funding bill to support law enforcement, economic prosperity, scientific research, space exploration, and other national priorities. The FY2020 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which is $6.715 billion above the FY2019 enacted level, funds the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and related agencies.
FCC and FTC Budgets Advances in Senate
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government approved its FY2020 spending bill which includes:
- $339 million for the Federal Communications Commission, which is offset by regulatory fees and equal to the enacted level. The bill also provides $132.5 million for the spectrum auctions program.
- $312.3 million for the Federal Trade Commission, which is $2.6 million more than the FY2019 enacted level and equal to the FY2020 budget request.
Broadband in Agriculture Appropriations Bill
On September 17, the Senate Appropriations Committee's Agriculture Subcommittee marked up the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Sen Jeff Merkley, the subcommittee's ranking member, said, "Our bill also protects conservation and agriculture research programs that help our farmers and ranchers continue to be the most productive and efficient in the world, and maintains significant investments in rural broadband and water and wastewater programs." The bill goes before the full Appropriations Committee on Sept 19.