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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX-25) today delivered remarks calling on Speaker Pelosi to bring the Save Our Stages Act to the House floor for a vote as standalone legislation. His bipartisan bill introduced in July would create a grant program within the Small Business Administration to aid independent live music venues impacted by restrictions and government mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Ronald Reagan said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." We owe our nation's veterans an unrepayable debt of gratitude. Thanks to the extraordinary bravery of our men and women in uniform, the United States of America remains, unequivocally, the greatest nation on earth and a beacon of liberty for the rest of the world.
It was great to meet many of you last week while visiting our 25th District communities. I'm always inspired hearing stories of small businesses who have adapted to the "new normal" and Texans who have embodied the American spirit to move us forward.
A bipartisan piece of federal legislation introduced by Congressman Roger Williams will hopefully pave the way for all city and county residents to have access to high-speed internet in the future.
Recently, Congressman Williams met in Copperas Cove with local city and county leaders to talk about the Eliminate the Digital Divide Act.
The bill would create a $10 billion state broadband program that would allow governors to direct federal dollars to unserved and low-income areas so they can carry out individual broadband networks and receive low-cost broadband services.
When COVID-19 began sweeping across our nation in March, I knew Congress must take deliberate action to keep our economy afloat and our communities protected. As a small business owner, it was clear that nearly every industry would require relief as they adapted to new government mandates and forced closures.
When COVID-19 began sweeping across our nation in March, I knew Congress must take deliberate action to keep our economy afloat and our communities protected. As a small business owner, it was clear that nearly every industry would require relief as they adapted to new government mandates and forced closures.
City, county, and school officials throughout central Texas agree that improved access to high-speed broadband internet is critical to education, economic growth and overall quality of life, and rural areas are particularly vulnerable to a lack of adequate service.
It's crucial for the growth of our nation that we ensure each student has access to high-quality broadband. That's why I introduced the Eliminate the Digital Divide Act in order to empower states like Texas to utilize broadband networks that best fit the needs of our rural communities.
Yesterday, I was joined by school officials, mayors and county judges from Coryell, Bell and Lampasas Counties highlighting the urgency of providing greater access to reliable internet for Texans in our communities.
More than two million Texas residents didn't have access to reliable internet before the pandemic, according to the Texas comptroller, while a staggering 18 million Americans nationwide had no access at all, per a 2020 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report. Now in the midst of a once-in-a-generation public health crisis, the need for broadband access to resources and health care delivery has never been more paramount.
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced what we already knew: Texas communities were underserved and in desperate need of high-speed internet access. As the demand for online learning has become the new norm, offices have implemented remote work policies, and medical professionals now conduct a larger amount of appointments via teleservices, continuing to leave educational and professional services in the 20th Century is not an option.