Representative Angie Craig Presses Biden Administration to Ensure Underserved Communities Gain Access to Remote Work, Telehealth and Distance Learning

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Representative Angie Craig called on the Biden Administration to ensure the effective and appropriate implementation of a program designed to ensure that every American has access to high-quality and affordable broadband internet connection. The program, which was enacted by Congress as part of the American Rescue Plan, will provide $10 billion to state and tribal governments to ensure all communities can take part in remote work, telehealth and distance learning – all of which have become especially vital due to COVID-19.

In a letter addressed to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who has been charged with overseeing the Capital Projects Fund, Craig urged the Administration to ensure local communities were aware of the upcoming deadline for applications and to ensure that relevant federal agencies could assist with the approval and disbursement process.

"Getting this new program right is vitally important. As you are no doubt aware, too many people in the United States lack access to the quality, modern infrastructure needed over the last 19 months. Distance learning, telehealth and remote work all require reliable, accessible and affordable broadband," wrote Representative Craig.

"As a member of the House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth tasked with representing the voices of this nation's family farmers and rural families, I see the urgent need for increased broadband and modern infrastructure investments every day," Craig continued. "Too many of the people in my Congressional District and across rural America lack even rudimentary access to the internet."

The COVID-19 public health emergency reinforced the idea that communities without access to high-quality modern infrastructure, including broadband internet access, face impediments to fully participating in aspects of daily life, such as remote work, telehealth, and distance learning. The Department of Treasury launched the Capital Projects Fund to allow state and tribal governments to invest in capital assets that will help to meet their communities' critical needs – both in the short and long-term – with a key emphasis on investments in broadband infrastructure.

For a Capital Project to be an eligible use of funds, it must meet all of the following three criteria:

• The Capital Project invests in capital assets designed to directly enable work, education, and health monitoring
• The Capital Project is designed to address a critical need that resulted from or was made apparent or exacerbated by the COVID-19 public health emergency
• The Capital Project is designed to address a critical need of the community to be served by it

In addition to the above criteria, Treasury's guidance encourages recipients to invest funds in broadband infrastructure projects to address the digital divide exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and expand connectivity to underserved and unserved residents. Specifically, recipients are encouraged to prioritize projects designed to provide services to households and businesses that do not have access to a reliable connection, invest in middle-mile projects and fiber-optic infrastructure.

You can find the full text of the letter

November 16, 2021

The Honorable Janet Yellen
Secretary of Treasury
U.S. Department of Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220

Dear Secretary Yellen,

Thank you for releasing the recent guidance regarding the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CPF) that was established as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

With the deadline for States to request funding quickly approaching at year's end, I wanted to raise awareness of this deadline, especially for my Congressional District's potential recipients who stand to benefit from the nearly $181 million in funding available for the State of Minnesota. My goal is for these local communities to begin preparing ideas for eligible projects that would carry out critical capital projects directly enabling work, education, and health monitoring in response to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in line with Congressional intent.

While the State of Minnesota is the lead applicant for funding, subrecipients such as counties and cities – as well as non-profits and certain private entities – may be awarded funds. For example, Treasury notes that for Broadband Infrastructure Projects, Subrecipients may include "co operatives, electric utilities, and other entities that build or operate broadband networks, including networks that are owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments."

In addition to raising awareness about this funding opportunity, I am also writing to ensure that there is sufficient coordination between federal agencies prior to (or during) grant reviews. While Treasury was established as the lead federal agency in charge of the program, I would encourage you to ensure that at minimum, the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services and Labor are consulted. These agencies have substantial knowledge of issues facing communities looking to expand rural broadband, tackle remote and telehealth issues and improve workforce training.

Getting this new program right is vitally important. As you are no doubt aware, too many people in the United States lack access to the quality, modern infrastructure needed over the last 19 months. Distance learning, telehealth and remote work all require reliable, accessible and affordable broadband. Need for strong broadband infrastructure will only increase as technology advances and employers seek to offer increased flexibility.

As a member of the House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth tasked with representing the voices of this nation's family farmers and rural families, I see the urgent need for increased broadband and modern infrastructure investments every day. Too many of the people in my Congressional District and across rural America lack even rudimentary access to the internet.

Passing the American Rescue Plan was a key step in ensuring a strong and swift recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and I sincerely appreciate the Biden Administration's significant efforts to support state and tribal governments throughout the pandemic.

Thank you for your consideration and dedicated work on behalf of the American people.

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