Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act of 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Pallone, and the committee for their hard work on this bipartisan bill.

This legislation includes my bill, H.R. 5007, the Tribal Broadband Deployment Act, which will direct the FCC to improve broadband access on Tribal lands within 30 months.

For the communities in my congressional district, California's 36th District, and throughout our Nation, this will be a game changer. Throughout the Coachella Valley, the San Jacinto Mountain communities, and the Pass regions of California, rural, underdeveloped Tribal lands are spread out among non-Tribal communities, both of which are often lacking broadband internet and both of which will benefit.

My bill will bring real resources and opportunities to these areas, improving connectivity and helping to close the digital divide in these historically underserved communities. With expanding access to the internet, families, students, workers, and businesses will be able to harness the power of their ideas and information to achieve their dreams and grow our local economies.

I want to thank Chairman Blackburn for honoring her commitment to work with me on this issue.

I urge the House to pass this important bipartisan bill.

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