Title: Ensuring Phone and Internet Access for SNAP Recipients Act of 2020
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Ensuring Phone and Internet Access for SNAP Recipients Act of 2020
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to report on enrollment in the Lifeline program. The Lifeline program is designed to reduce the cost of communications services for low-income consumers, and it allows those consumers to qualify for Lifeline assistance based on their receipt of other federal assistance programs (e.g., Medicaid or Federal Public Housing Assistance).
Specifically, the FCC must submit reports on (1) enrollment in the Lifeline program by individuals who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program), and (2) the number of new broadband consumers projected to join the Lifeline program through federal assistance programs and the efficacy of various efforts to advertise the Lifeline program.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8427 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8427

 To provide for certain reports on enrollment in the Lifeline program, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 29, 2020

Mrs. Luria (for herself, Ms. Spanberger, and Mr. Riggleman) introduced 
 the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for certain reports on enrollment in the Lifeline program, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ensuring Phone and Internet Access 
for SNAP Recipients Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. REPORTS ON ENROLLMENT IN LIFELINE PROGRAM.

    (a) Annual Report on Enrollment in Lifeline Program by SNAP 
Participants.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, and each year thereafter, the Commission, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall submit to Congress a report on 
enrollment in the Lifeline program by individuals participating in the 
supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
    (b) Study and Report on Enrollment in Lifeline Program.--Not later 
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission 
shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on--
            (1) projections of the number of new broadband service 
        consumers who will join the Lifeline program through Federal 
        assistance programs during the 5-year period following the 
        conclusion of the study; and
            (2) the efficacy of various efforts to advertise the 
        Lifeline program, including data illustrating the effect of 
        such efforts on enrollment in such program.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Broadband service.--The term ``broadband service'' has 
        the meaning given the term ``broadband internet access 
        service'' in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, or any successor regulation.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission.
                                 <all>