II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1245 

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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 20, 2023 

Mrs. FISCHER (for herself and Mr. HICKENLOOPER) introduced the following 

bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance 

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’’. 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•S 1245 IS

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 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•S 1245 IS

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. 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•S 1245 IS

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

2 and inserting ‘‘$4,980,000,000’’. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB