A bill to amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 to authorize additional funds for the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund, to provide grants to States and Tribal Entities to strengthen the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, to provide for Federal coordination between the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier and the National Accuracy Clearinghouse, and for other purposes.

To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 to authorize additional funds for the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund, to provide grants to States and Tribal entities to strengthen the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, to provide for Federal coordination between the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier and the National Accuracy Clearinghouse, and for other purposes. 1. Authorization for Additional Funds for the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund There are authorized to be appropriated to the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund established under subsection (i) of section 904 of title IX of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( Public Law 116–260 2. Grants to States to strengthen National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (a) In general Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall establish a program to provide a grant, from amounts appropriated under subsection (d), to each eligible entity for the purpose described under subsection (b). (b) Purpose The Commission shall make a grant to each eligible entity for the purpose of establishing or amending a connection between the databases of such entity that contain information concerning the receipt by a household, or a member of a household, of benefits under a program administered by such entity (including any benefit provided under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 (1) is reflected in the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier; and (2) can be used to verify eligibility for— (A) the Lifeline program established under subpart E, part 54, of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation); and (B) the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program established under section 904(b) of title IX of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( Public Law 116–260 (c) Disbursement of grant funds Not later than 60 days after the program established under subsection (a) is established, funds provided under each grant made under such subsection shall be disbursed to the entity receiving such grant. (d) Authorization of appropriation There are authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 for the purposes of carrying out this section, and such amount is authorized to remain available until fiscal year 2026. (e) Eligible entities In this section, the term eligible entity (1) is a State or Tribal entity; and (2) not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, submits to the Commission an application containing such information as the Commission may require. 3. Federal coordination between National Eligibility Verifier and National Accuracy Clearinghouse Notwithstanding section 11(x)(2)(C)(i) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2020(x)(2)(C)(i) 7 U.S.C. 2020(x) 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) Automated connection The term automated connection (2) Commission The term Commission (3) National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier The term National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (4) State The term State 47 U.S.C. 153 (5) Tribal entity The term Tribal entity (A) The governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation, individually recognized (including parenthetically) in the list published most recently as of the date of enactment of this Act pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 ( 25 U.S.C. 5131 (B) The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Summary: This bill makes changes to facilitate data sharing between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and programs that subsidize communication services to verify eligibility for applicable programs. Specifically, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must award grants to states and tribes for establishing or modifying connections between databases with information regarding benefit programs (e.g., SNAP) and the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier to verify eligibility for the Lifeline program (which subsidizes telephone and internet services for low-income individuals) and the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (which subsidizes broadband services for those who suffered income loss during the COVID-19 pandemic and other eligible households). The bill also reauthorizes through FY2026 the fund that supports the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. In addition, the FCC must establish an automated connection to share data between the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier and the National Accuracy Clearinghouse for SNAP. The FCC must coordinate with the Department of Agriculture to establish the connection.