WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Commerce Committee advanced Senator Peter Welch’s (D-Vt.) amendment to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program with $7 billion, as requested in his bicameral, bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act. 

“After weeks of deadlock, we finally have progress on the effort to keep internet access affordable for millions of seniors, veterans, families and students across America. We’ve been struggling to come together to extend this critical program, and today’s passage of my amendment by the Commerce Committee is a step in the right direction. I hope my colleagues—on both sides of the aisle—will put politics aside and join me in working quickly to lift folks in Vermont and across America out of digital darkness,” said Sen. Welch. 

Since its implementation in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, more than 23 million households utilized the program’s monthly discount of up to $30 for internet service, and up to $75 monthly for households on Tribal lands. Nearly 26,000 Vermont households—including working families, veterans, and seniors—were enrolled in the ACP when the program was active.  

Nationally, more than 1.1 million veterans or their survivors drawing VA benefits have applied for ACP. For rural veterans, in particular, ACP can help them access critical telehealth services. 

The ACP has been entirely depleted since June.  

The amendment was attached to the PLAN for Broadband Act, legislation to streamline federal broadband program to make it more accessible for underserved areas. 

The Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act’s original Senate cosponsors include U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.). U.S. Representatives Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.-09) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-01) are leading the legislation in the House. 

Watch the Commerce Committee markup here.  

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