April 23, 2024

Rep. Vargas, Colleagues Call on House Leadership to Join Democrats in Preventing 23 Million Households Nationwide From Losing Internet Access

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) joined 96 of his colleagues in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson calling on House Republican Leadership to take immediate bipartisan action to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Enacted as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) currently empowers over 80,000 households in California’s 52nd Congressional District and 23 million households nationwide to access affordable broadband. Without additional funding from Congress, the ACP will run out of funds after this month and millions of households could lose crucial internet access. 

“Without the monthly benefit the ACP provides, many Americans will lose access to distance learning, telemedicine, the online marketplace, and the numerous benefits that high-speed internet provides in everyday life,” the lawmakers wrote. 

“We are committed to fighting to lower everyday costs,” the lawmakers continued. “Letting the ACP lapse will lead to a direct increase in broadband costs for consumers. We reaffirm our call to House Republicans to deliver for the American people and provide the ACP with the funding it needs without delay.”

The full text of the letter is available HERE

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