Kuster Advocates for Congressional Action on Broadband Infrastructure, Community Health Center Funding

Statement

Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the bipartisan Task Force on Rural Broadband and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, released the following statement on priorities for the fourth coronavirus response package. During a press conference yesterday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, and Congressional leaders discussed infrastructure plans for the phase four coronavirus legislative response package.

"With the important steps Granite Staters are taking to slow the spread of this virus including physical distancing, the need for reliable internet and broadband connectivity - particularly in our rural communities - could not be greater," said Kuster. "Students have turned to remote learning, many people are working from home, and health providers have begun to rely heavily on telehealth services. Additionally, our public health infrastructure and workforce have been strained with the spread of COVID-19, and it is critical that Congress provides long-term certainty and additional investments to these critical health providers. I support this policy framework that will help enable our communities to reach underserved populations and provide relief to our overflowed emergency rooms."

"As our country has faced the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has acted swiftly in a bipartisan manner to pass three comprehensive relief packages that support our local health response, provide relief for small businesses and protect American workers," Kuster continued. "While these packages represent an important step to address the immediate public health and economic impacts of COVID-19, the disruption to the American people's way of life and well-being has exposed vulnerabilities that must be addressed in future legislation."

As a Member of the Rural Broadband Task Force in Congress, Rep. Kuster has been an advocate for increased investments in high-speed broadband for New Hampshire's unserved and underserved communities. Additionally, Rep. Kuster has supported legislation to establish long-term and stable funding for Community Health Centers, which are currently operating under a short-term reauthorization.

Last month, Rep. Kuster voted to advance the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, which provided an additional $100 million in funding for Community Health Centers. Kuster is a cosponsor of the Community Health Center and Primary Care Workforce Expansion Act, and will continue to push for the inclusion of policies to expand reliable internet and broadband connectivity, particularly in rural communities, in the coming months.

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