I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3544 
To require the Administrator of General Services to transfer certain surplus 
computers and technology equipment to nonprofit computer refurbishers 
for repair, distribution, and return, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 25, 2021 
Ms. SPANBERGER (for herself, Mr. WITTMAN, and Mrs. LURIA) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
A BILL 
To require the Administrator of General Services to transfer 
certain surplus computers and technology equipment to 
nonprofit computer refurbishers for repair, distribution, 
and return, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Computers for Vet-
erans and Students Act of 2021’’ or the ‘‘COVS Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Access to computers and computer tech-
nology is 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) The COVID–19 pandemic has highlighted 
the gap between those with computer access and 
those without. Millions of students, their families, 
and workers from across the economy were unable to 
do schoolwork, work remotely from home, or be able 
to connect to loved ones and their communities be-
cause of the digital divide. 
(3) Any Federal program that distributes re-
tired Federal computers to a public school, an edu-
cational nonprofit, or a nonprofit computer refur-
bisher for repair and distribution would benefit from 
a partnership with a nonprofit organization, whose 
mission is bridging the digital divide. 
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SEC. 3. REFURBISHMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS 
COMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT. 
(a) GSA TRANSFER.—On a quarterly basis, the Ad-
ministrator shall transfer to participating nonprofit com-
puter refurbishers surplus computer or technology equip-
ment that has been declared repairable as follows: 
(1) 40 percent for repair and distribution in ac-
cordance with subsection (c)(1). 
(2) 60 percent for repair and transfer in ac-
cordance with subsection (c)(2). 
(b) PARTNERSHIP.—The Administrator may estab-
lish a partnership with private entities to— 
(1) facilitate the identification of nonprofit com-
puter refurbishers and the distribution of surplus 
computer or technology equipment under this sec-
tion; and 
(2) facilitate the participation of nonprofit com-
puter refurbishers under this section. 
(c) REPAIR AND DISTRIBUTION.— 
(1) DISTRIBUTION TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DI-
VIDE.—A nonprofit computer refurbisher that re-
ceives equipment under subsection (a)(1) shall repair 
and distribute such equipment to an educational in-
stitution, a veteran, an individual with a disability, 
a low-income individual, a student, or a senior in 
need that is residing or based in the United States. 
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(2) 
DISTRIBUTION
TO
STATE
AGENCIES 
THROUGH GSA.—A nonprofit computer refurbisher 
that receives equipment under subsection (a)(2) 
shall repair and return the equipment to the Admin-
istrator for transfer under section 549 of title 40, 
United States Code. 
(3) INABILITY
TO
BE
REUSED.—A nonprofit 
computer refurbisher shall transfer to the Adminis-
trator any equipment received under this subsection 
that is not possible to repair for reclassification 
under section 102–36.240 of title 41, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations. 
(4) TRAINING PROGRAMS.—Any nonprofit com-
puter refurbisher that receives any equipment under 
subsection (a)(1) shall offer training programs on 
the use of computers and technology equipment for 
any of the following: 
(A) Educational institutions. 
(B) Veterans. 
(C) Individuals with disabilities. 
(D) Low-income individuals. 
(E) Students. 
(F) Seniors. 
(d) REPORTS REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 2 
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