IV 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 939 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that access to digital 
communications tools and connectivity is necessary to prepare youth 
in the United States to compete in the 21st century economy. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 30, 2016 
Mr. WELCH submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
access to digital communications tools and connectivity 
is necessary to prepare youth in the United States to 
compete in the 21st century economy. 
Whereas the United States should lead the world in providing 
high-quality education and opportunities to its citizens; 
Whereas digital skills are essential for education and pre-
paring citizens for the economy of the future; 
Whereas, on a daily basis, teachers across the country assign 
homework that requires Internet access to be completed; 
Whereas there are 5,000,000 households with school-age chil-
dren in the United States that do not have high-speed 
Internet access at home and fall into what is known as 
the ‘‘homework gap’’; 
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•HRES 939 IH 
Whereas a disproportionate number of students without high- 
speed Internet access at home reside in low-income and 
minority households; 
Whereas students and families in rural areas face additional 
challenges when homework requires Internet access that 
is out of reach; 
Whereas every student deserves an opportunity at 21st cen-
tury success; 
Whereas participation in the classroom can be improved when 
all students are equipped with the tools to complete their 
homework; 
Whereas educators can increase the use of cutting-edge edu-
cation technology and digital learning resources when 
those resources remain accessible during out-of-school 
hours; 
Whereas data show that students have received lower grades 
and been unable to complete their assignments because of 
their lack of Internet access at home; 
Whereas improved student access to postsecondary education 
and workforce opportunities can be made possible by in-
creasing the ability of students to apply for employment, 
postsecondary education, and financial aid opportunities; 
Whereas leaders in the public and private sectors have recog-
nized that the homework gap is an issue of national im-
portance and partnered to find cooperative solutions to 
address it; and 
Whereas instilling digital skills and the knowledge to succeed 
in the 21st century economy in the Nation’s students is 
vital to the Nation’s global competitiveness: Now, there-
fore, be it 
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•HRES 939 IH 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that access to digital communications tools 
and connectivity is necessary to prepare youth in the 
United States to compete in the 21st century economy. 
Æ 
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