Date: 2016-06-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong opposition of H.R. 5525. the End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016. because it will end an essential program that helps millions of elderly. lowincome and poor people have access to cellphone service. As the founder and chair of the Childrens Caucus I am particularly focused on the needs of children and their families. H.R. 5525 would deny the Universal Service Fund. the charge levied on land lines to help fund telecommunications services for low income people. the ability to use funds to help people purchase cell phones. The Lifeline Program was first implemented in 1985 by President Reagan and expanded in 2005 by President George W. Bush to include commercial mobile service and commercial data service. the Lifeline program ensures that all Americans have the opportunities. assistance. and security that phone service brings. Lifeline is a successful program. currently supporting over 12 million people who make up our nations most vulnerable populations to call 911 and other emergency services. contact prospective and current employers. and connect with essential health. social. employment. and educational services. According to one Lifeline provider. more than 80 percent of Lifeline subscribers in 2011 had an average household income below $15.000. more than 45 percent of Lifeline subscribers were Caucasian compared to 40 percent who were African American and 7 percent who were Hispanic. In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order. the Commission included broadband as a support service in the Lifeline program. The Commission also set out minimum service standards for Lifelinesupported services to ensure maximum value for the universal service dollar. and established a National Eligibility Verifier to make independent subscriber eligibility determinations. Lifeline enables the most vulnerable among us to be participating members of our society. cutting wireless services could prevent individuals from being able to. among other things: receive a communication about a childs illness at school while they are at work. summon medical help in a car accident. speak with their employers about additional work shifts while commuting by public transit. or alert firstresponders of public emergencies (such as a fastmoving fire. a flooded road. or a violent attack) that pose a threat to the larger community. Today. 9.8 million Americans depend on the Lifeline program to stay connected using mobile phones. The legislation comes on the heels of real enforcement by the FCC to crack down on carriers that have abused the program. including a $51 million fine against Total Call Mobile announced in April. Even more. this shameful bill was not considered under regular order and has not been considered by any committee. If the critics of the Lifeline program sincerely think the costs of the program are a problem. they should work with Democrats to address inequality. to close the gender pay gap. to raise the minimum wage. and to put more people to work through universal broadband infrastructure projects. The Lifeline Program is working in my state of Texas. Texans are eligible for lifeline cell phone service if they receive benefits from any of the following programs: National School Lunch (free program only). Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section Health Benefit Coverage under Childrens Health Insurance Plan (CHIP). Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Medicaid. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. TriballyAdministered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. You may also qualify for lifeline service in Texas if your Total Household Income is at or under 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For these reasons I join the NAACP in strongly opposing H.R. 5525. because it will do real damage to our national effort to expand indispensable access to telephone and cellphone service. I ask my colleagues to join me in opposing H.R. 5525.