(1) Access to computers and computer tech-
nology are indispensable for success in the 21st cen-
tury. Millions of Americans do not regularly use a 
computer and research shows that substantial dis-
parities remain in both internet use and the quality 
of access with the digital divide concentrated among 
older, less educated, less affluent populations, espe-
cially veterans, low-income students, and senior citi-
zens. 
(2) In 1996, the President issued Executive 
Order 12999 instructing the General Services Ad-
ministration (GSA) to allow schools and nonprofits 
the ability to receive Federal surplus computers for 
educational purposes. 
(3) GSA created the Computers for Learning 
Program, which distributes approximately 30,000 
computers and computer-related equipment annually 
to public schools and nonprofits for reuse. 
(4) As a Federal program, Computers for 
Learning has lagged in fulfilling its mission just as 
the need for computer access for basic services and 
education has skyrocketed. 
(5) Computers for Learning has failed on three 
fronts through waste (computers going to schools 
and nonprofits that are not equipped to refurbish 
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them), abuse (multiple cases of theft or fraud in re-
cent years), and inefficiency (schools and nonprofits 
that lack the capacity to refurbish on a regional or 
national scale). 
(6) Computers for Learning would benefit from 
increased coordination by working directly with cer-
tified nonprofit computer refurbishers, the majority 
of which are allied together under the Alliance for 
Technology Reuse and Refurbishing (AFTRR). 
(7) AFTRR members collectively refurbish and 
put over 90,000 computers back into the community 
annually from public and privately donated equip-
ment, closing the digital divide and diverting mil-
lions of pounds of potential e-waste from landfills. 
(8) Each AFTRR member has ‘‘bridging the 
digital divide’’ at the core of their respective mis-
sions. Collectively, they have decades of experience, 
capacity, and knowledge in not only refurbishing 
computers, but also, distributing them to people in 
need, with many providing low-cost internet access 
and digital literacy training. AFTRR members have 
led the Nation in bridging the digital divide for 
years, and in some cases, decades. 
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SEC. 3. TRANSFER OF CERTAIN SURPLUS COMPUTERS AND 
TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT TO NONPROFIT 
COMPUTER REFURBISHERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The head of a Federal agency, 
through the Administrator of General Services, shall offer 
to transfer any surplus computer or technology equipment 
that is not being used internally by the Federal agency, 
or has not been requested for use by another Federal 
agency, to a nonprofit computer refurbisher for repair and 
distribution to an educational institution, a veteran, an in-
dividual with a disability, a low-income individual, a stu-
dent, or a senior in need (as determined by the nonprofit 
computer refurbisher). 
(b) COLLABORATION WITH ALLIANCE FOR TECH-
NOLOGY REFURBISHING AND REUSE.—In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Administrator of General Services shall 
work directly with the Alliance for Technology Refur-
bishing and Reuse to establish a process through which 
surplus computers and technology equipment will be 
transferred to nonprofit computer refurbishers. Such proc-
ess shall be established not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) RETURN OF CERTAIN COMPUTERS AND EQUIP-
MENT.—In the case in which the Administrator of General 
Services is not able to transfer a surplus computer or tech-
nology equipment to a nonprofit computer refurbisher 
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within 30 days after offering to transfer such computer 
or equipment, the head of the Federal agency on whose 
behalf the Administrator of General Services acted shall 
dispose of such computer or equipment in accordance with 
the procedures of such agency regarding the disposal of 
Federal electronic assets. 
(d) DUTIES
OF NONPROFIT COMPUTER REFUR-
BISHERS.— 
(1) TRAINING
PROGRAMS.—Each nonprofit 
computer refurbisher to whom the Administrator of 
General Services transfers a surplus computer or 
technology equipment under subsection (a) shall 
offer training programs for educational institutions, 
veterans, individuals with disabilities, low-income in-
dividuals, students, and seniors in need on the use 
of computers and technology equipment. 
(2) LEGAL COMPLIANCE.—Each nonprofit com-
puter refurbisher to whom the Administrator of 
General Services transfers a surplus computer or 
technology equipment under subsection (a) shall 
comply with any Federal, State, or local law relating 
to the disposition of e-waste. 
(3) ANNUAL REPORTS TO AFTRR.—Each non-
profit computer refurbisher to whom the Adminis-
trator of General Services transfers a surplus com-
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puter or technology equipment under subsection (a) 
shall submit an annual report to the Alliance for 
Technology Refurbishing and Reuse on any surplus 
computer or technology equipment repaired or dis-
tributed by such refurbisher. 
(e) PROHIBITION AGAINST TRACKING
AND TIME 
LIMITS.—Due to the unique condition of each surplus 
computer or technology equipment, the Administrator of 
General Services may not require a nonprofit computer re-
furbisher to repair and distribute any surplus computer 
or technology equipment within a specific timeframe. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION.—The term 
‘‘educational institution’’ means— 
(A) any public or private child care center, 
preschool, elementary school, secondary school, 
or accredited institution of vocational, profes-
sional, or higher education; and 
(B) in the case of an accredited institution 
of vocational, professional, or higher education 
composed of more than one school, college, or 
department that is administratively a separate 
unit, each such school, college, or department. 
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(2) NONPROFIT
COMPUTER
REFURBISHER.— 
The term ‘‘nonprofit computer refurbisher’’ means a 
nonprofit organization— 
(A) whose primary mission and activity is 
to bridge the digital divide; 
(B) that is exempt from taxation under 
section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986; and 
(C) that is a member of the Alliance for 
Technology Refurbishing and Reuse. 
(3) SENIOR.—The term ‘‘senior’’ means any in-
dividual who is 65 years of age or older. 
(4) STUDENT.—The term ‘‘student’’ means any 
individual enrolled in an educational institution, ex-
cluding a public or private child care center. 
(5) 
TECHNOLOGY
EQUIPMENT.—The 
term 
‘‘technology equipment’’ means physical assets re-
lated to computers and information technology, in-
cluding peripheral components, tablets, communica-
tion devices (such as routers, servers, and cell 
phones), printers, scanners, uninterruptible power 
sources, and cables and connections. 
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