{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-van-hollen-and-bennet-and-rep-meng-applaud-inclusion-of-3-billion-in-e-rate-distance-learning-funding-in-bipartisan-senate-coronavirus-proposal", "Senators Markey, Van Hollen, and Bennet, and Rep. Meng Applaud Inclusion of $3 Billion in E-rate Distance Learning Funding in Bipartisan Senate Coronavirus ProposalRead More", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Edward Markey", "M000133", "www.markey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington (December 14, 2020) \r\nSenators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.),Chris Van Hollen\r\n(D-Md.),Michael Bennet (D-Colo.),and Congresswoman Grace Meng\r\n(NY-01) today applauded inclusion of their legislation the Emergency\r\nEducational Connections Act and $3 billion in funding for the E-rate\r\nprogram in the bipartisan Senate coronavirus relief proposal. The lawmakers'\r\nlegislation funds elementary and secondary schools and libraries, including\r\ntribal schools and libraries, to provide Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and\r\ninternet-enabled devices, including internet service through such equipment, to\r\nstudents, staff, and patrons. It would also allow schools and libraries to\r\ncontinue to use the equipment after the emergency period.   We are pleased to see our\r\nlegislation that funds K-12 distance learning included in this bipartisan\r\ncoronavirus relief package, said the\r\nlawmakers. We cannot afford to wait another day to connect online our\r\nnation's most vulnerable children to their educators and classmates and to\r\nensure the homework gap' does not grow into a damaging learning gap as the\r\npandemic continues. This $3 billion in E-rate funding is a strong down payment\r\non ensuring all kids can continue to learn and develop throughout this health\r\ncrisis.  TheEmergency Educational Connections\r\nAct, introduced in May by a\r\ngroup of 46 Democratic Senators and by Rep. Meng in the House of\r\nRepresentatives, would appropriate at least $4 billion to be delivered through\r\nthe E-Rate program to equip students with internet connectivity and devices\r\nduring the ongoing pandemic.Since the E-Rate began nearly two decades\r\nago, more than $52 billion has been committed nationwide to provide internet\r\naccess for schools and libraries.Senator Markey is the author of the\r\noriginal E-Rate program, which was created as a part of the 1996\r\nTelecommunications Act. The program is designed to connect schools and\r\nlibraries to the Internet, as well as ensure access for low-income students and\r\nfamilies.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-van-hollen-and-bennet-and-rep-meng-applaud-inclusion-of-3-billion-in-e-rate-distance-learning-funding-in-bipartisan-senate-coronavirus-proposal"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.020672032609582, "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"}