{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-marshall-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-expand-access-to-broadband-internet-in-rural-communities/", "Welch, Marshall Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Access to Broadband Internet in Rural Communities", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, today joined U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) in reintroducing the ReConnecting Rural America Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) ReConnect Loan and Grant Program. ReConnect plays a central role in expanding access to high-speed broadband in rural communities, where broadband access is severely limited compared to what is available in urban and suburban areas.\n\n\u201cThe last few years have shown all of us how important high-speed broadband is to our communities. From online school and remote work to telemedicine, a good connection is essential,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cMany rural communities don\u2019t have access to broadband at all, let alone the higher speeds needed to participate in today\u2019s digital economy. Our bipartisan legislation will help more Americans access the service they need, with the help of USDA\u2019s ReConnect Loan and Grant program. I\u2019m glad to partner with Senator Marshall on this important bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cJust as the great Kansan President Eisenhower understood the importance of investing in our nation\u2019s highways in the 1950s, we must invest in the critical highway of our time: reliable, high-speed internet,\u201d said Senator Marshall. \u201cBroadband isn\u2019t a luxury \u2013 it\u2019s essential for our way of life. From family farms to schools to small businesses, rural communities depend on connectivity now more than ever. The ReConnecting Rural America Act will help bring rural Kansas up to speed, and I am proud to work with Senator Welch to reintroduce this important legislation.\u201d\n\nAs of early 2025, over a third of Americans lack access to one or no broadband provider. Recent data reports that more than 45 million Americans lack fixed terrestrial 100/20 Mbps broadband, the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s (FCC) minimum standard for broadband speed. Many Americans, in particular in rural areas, lack access to higher-speed 100/100 Mbps service required to telecommute, access telemedicine, or participate in remote schooling.\n\nThe ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025 will codify and clarify components of the ReConnect Program and, in so doing, reduce red tape and speed broadband deployment. The bill will:\n\nEstablish 100/100 Mbps symmetrical buildout speeds for ReConnect.\n\nClarify that USDA can make grants, loans, or grant-loan combinations under ReConnect.\n\nSet unserved definitions to ensure ReConnect reaches those who need broadband the most, and not building broadband where it is not needed.\n\nClarify that Communications Union Districts are eligible entities under ReConnect.\n\nImprove coordination and communication among stakeholders at the federal level.\n\nThe ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025 is endorsed by the Fiber Broadband Association.\n\n\u201cThe Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) commends Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) for reintroducing the Reconnecting Rural America Act in the U.S. Senate. This critical legislation represents another important step toward closing the digital divide and expanding access to symmetric, high-speed, future-proof broadband networks in rural communities across the country. By clarifying how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers grants and loans under the ReConnect program, the bill ensures that federal investments are used effectively and efficiently to deliver fast, reliable, and scalable broadband to unserved and underserved areas. FBA applauds this bipartisan commitment to strengthening America\u2019s broadband infrastructure and ensuring that every household, business, and community has the connectivity needed to thrive in today\u2019s digital economy,\u201d said Gary Bolton, CEO, FBA.\n\nRead more about USDA\u2019s ReConnect Loan and Grant Program here.\n\nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, Senator Welch has led the fight to expand access to affordable, high-speed internet across America. In January, Senator Welch pushed then-USDA Secretary nominee Brooke Rollins to support broadband buildout in rural communities. Last Congress, Senator Welch helped secure more than $17 million through USDA\u2019s ReConnect Program to support NEK Community Broadband\u2019s efforts to help low-income Vermonters access affordable broadband.\n\nRead and download the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"]], "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.welch.senate.gov/welch-marshall-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-expand-access-to-broadband-internet-in-rural-communities/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9486251510679722, "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"}