{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-e-bridge-act-passes-house-transportation-and-infrastructure-committee", "Graves' E-BRIDGE Act Passes House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee", "2021-07-28", "2021", "2021-07", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", "graves", "https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 House Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves issued the following statement after his legislation, the Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility (E-BRIDGE) Act passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with bipartisan support. The E-BRIDGE Act will now head to the full House for further consideration.\n\n\u201cThis is a big step forward for Missourians without access to reliable high-speed broadband internet,\u201d said Graves. \u201cThe E-BRIDGE Act breaks down barriers in existing federal grant programs to unlock more funding to get last-mile internet infrastructure projects completed. It doesn\u2019t matter how old you are or where you live, Americans of all walks of life use the internet for everything from precision agriculture, to telemedicine, to school work. It\u2019s critical that we get folks plugged in and I\u2019m grateful my colleagues on both sides of the aisle came together to get this common sense legislation passed out of committee.\u201d\n\nThe Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility (E-BRIDGE) Act removes hurdles for broadband projects under EDA grants, including difficult last-mile efforts that often delay rural broadband deployment. It also ensures that local communities can partner with the private sector in carrying out broadband projects and gives communities more flexibility in complying with their funding match requirements. Click here to read the bill.\n\nBy helping to increase the reach of broadband to rural and economically distressed communities, the E-BRIDGE Act will help:\n\nAttract new businesses and support current businesses in distressed regions of the country,\n\nStrengthen healthcare systems and delivery of medical care to vulnerable populations,\n\nLay the groundwork for economic recovery in these areas, and\n\nBetter prepare these communities for future disasters or epidemics.\n\nThe E-BRIDGE Act helps accomplish these goals because it:\n\nEliminates barriers to investments in broadband in distressed communities, making them eligible for EDA grants.\n\nClarifies that eligible recipients may include public-private partnerships and consortiums to leverage private sector expertise in project development.\n\nProvides flexibility in the procurement process to account for limited availability of broadband services in distressed communities.\n\nClarifies that funds can be combined with other federal resources.\n\nProvides flexibility on accounting for in-kind methods to meet non-federal cost share.\n\nThe Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management have jurisdiction over the programs of the EDA and its economic development programs.\n\nWhat They Are Saying:\n\n\u201cBroadband access has been a lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the past year has shown us just how important it is to get everyone connected. On behalf of NTCA\u2019s members, I want to thank Ranking Member Graves for his demonstrated interest in advancing connectivity through the E-BRIDGE Act. We particularly appreciate this bill\u2019s emphasis on targeting efforts to areas most in need of broadband access and coordinating between various federal programs seeking to help promote such access.\u201d \u2013 Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA\u2013The Rural Broadband Association\n\n\u201cBroadband is critical for farmers, ranchers and rural communities. With 17% of rural Americans still without reliable broadband, the digital divide restricts access to essential education, healthcare and business resources as well as limits farmers\u2019 capacity to use the latest technology to meet sustainability goals. Farm Bureau appreciates Representatives Sam Graves and Michael Guest for introducing the Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility Act, a bill that would expand access to broadband by allowing distressed communities to utilize Economic Development Administration grants for broadband deployment.\u201d \u2013 Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation\n\n\u201cThe E-BRIDGE legislation will help support access to high-speed broadband connectivity throughout rural regions. These resources will allow for greater economic resiliency across the country and will help facilitate rural prosperity.\u201d \u2013 Joe McKinney, Executive Director, National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). Read the full letter of support from NADO.\n\n\u201cOne way to boost productivity and bridge gaps in equity is through investing in digital infrastructure. The App Association supports Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility (E-BRIDGE) Act (H.R. 3193/S. 1695) because this legislation would ensure that economic development organizations, in public-private partnerships or through consortia, can use Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant funds to support broadband deployment.\u201d \u2013Morgan W. Reed, President, ACT | The App Association. Read the full letter of support from ACT.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:03:51Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-e-bridge-act-passes-house-transportation-and-infrastructure-committee"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.966907013207674, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}