Senate Likely to Begin Votes Thursday Night on Some COVID-19 Connectivity Aid Clawbacks

The Senate appeared likely to begin votes as soon as Thursday night on the House-passed Fiscal Responsibility Act debt limit measure (HR-3746), which includes language that would rescind “unobligated” COVID-19 emergency funding for the FCC and Agriculture Department Rural Utilities Service’s Distance Learning, Telemedicine and Broadband Program enacted as part of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (see 2305300071). The Cares Act originally allocated $200 million in emergency funding to the FCC and $25 million for the RUS program (see 2003270058). The House passed HR-3746 314-117 Wednesday.