I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 6189 

To transfer unobligated balances made available for COVID–19 emergency 

response and relief to the Federal Communications Commission to enable 

the Commission to carry out the Secure and Trusted Communications 

Networks Reimbursement Program. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 2, 2023 

Mrs. HINSON (for herself, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. GALLAGHER, Ms. 

PETTERSEN, Mr. MOOLENAAR, and Ms. HOULAHAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and 

in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to 

be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 

concerned 

A BILL 

To transfer unobligated balances made available for COVID– 

19 emergency response and relief to the Federal Communications Commission to enable the Commission to carry 

out the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks 

Reimbursement Program. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Defend Our Networks 

5 Act’’. 


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•HR 6189 IH

1 SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF CERTAIN UNOBLIGATED BALANCES; 

2 FUNDING OF PROGRAM. 

3 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

4 (1) COMMISSION; PROGRAM.—The terms ‘‘Com5 mission’’ and ‘‘Program’’ have the meanings given 

6 those terms in section 9 of the Secure and Trusted 

7 Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 

8 1608). 

9 (2) COVERED ACCOUNTS.—The term ‘‘covered 

10 accounts’’ means amounts made available under— 

11 (A) the Coronavirus Preparedness and Re12 sponse Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 

13 (Public Law 116–123; 134 Stat. 146); 

14 (B) the Families First Coronavirus Re15 sponse Act (Public Law 116–127; 134 Stat. 

16 178); 

17 (C) the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136; 

18 134 Stat. 281); 

19 (D) the Paycheck Protection Program and 

20 Health Care Enhancement Act (Public Law 

21 116–139; 134 Stat. 620); 

22 (E) division M or N of the Consolidated 

23 Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116– 

24 260); 

25 (F) the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 

26 (Public Law 117–2; 135 Stat. 4); or 


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•HR 6189 IH

1 (G) an amendment made by a provision of 

2 law described in any of subparagraphs (A) 

3 through (F). 

4 (b) FUNDING.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Of the unobligated balances, 

6 as of the date of enactment of this Act, of the cov7 ered accounts, $3,080,000,000 shall be transferred 

8 not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 

9 of this Act to the Commission to carry out the Pro10 gram. 

11 (2) PRO RATA TRANSFER.—Unobligated bal12 ances shall be transferred under paragraph (1) on a 

13 pro rata basis. 

14 (3) USE AND AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.— 

15 Amounts transferred under paragraph (1) shall— 

16 (A) be merged with other appropriations 

17 for the Program; 

18 (B) be subject to the same conditions and 

19 limitations as the other appropriations for the 

20 Program; and 

21 (C) remain available until expended. 

22 (4) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND23 MENT.—Section 4(k) of the Secure and Trusted 

24 Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 


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•HR 6189 IH

1 1603(k)) is amended by striking ‘‘$1,900,000,000’’ 

2 and inserting ‘‘$4,980,000,000’’. 

Æ 


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