H.R. 7963

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7963 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7963

To direct the Federal Communications Commission to promulgate 
regulations to improve the Lifeline program of the Commission, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 17, 2026

Mr. Obernolte introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Federal Communications Commission to promulgate 
regulations to improve the Lifeline program of the Commission, and for 
other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``No Lifeline for the Dead Act''.

SEC. 2. LIFELINE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT.

(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall 
promulgate regulations with respect to the Lifeline program to provide 
for the following:
(1) The eligibility of a consumer for assistance under such 
program shall be determined using the National Lifeline 
Eligibility Verifier and the National Lifeline Accountability 
Database, without any option for opting out of such Verifier or 
such Database on the basis of a State or other system related 
to eligibility determinations.
(2) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, any consumer whose eligibility for assistance 
under such program was determined without use of the National 
Lifeline Eligibility Verifier and the National Lifeline 
Accountability Database--
(A) shall have the eligibility of such consumer for 
assistance under such program reexamined and determined 
using such Verifier and such Database; and
(B) shall be no longer eligible for assistance 
under such program if determined ineligible pursuant to 
a reexamination under subparagraph (A).
(3) Only a consumer who is a citizen of the United States 
or a qualified alien shall be eligible for assistance under 
such program.
(4) Only a consumer who provides, as part of the 
application process for assistance under such program, the 
Social Security number (or a Tribal identifier) of such 
consumer shall be eligible for assistance under such program.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Lifeline program.--The term ``Lifeline program'' means 
the Lifeline program of the Federal Communications Commission, 
set forth in subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation).
(2) National lifeline accountability database.--The term 
``National Lifeline Accountability Database'' has the meaning 
given such term in section 54.400 of subpart E of part 54 of 
title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
regulation).
(3) National lifeline eligibility verifier.--The term 
``National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier'' has the meaning 
given such term in section 54.400 of subpart E of part 54 of 
title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
regulation).
(4) Qualified alien.--The term ``qualified alien'' has the 
meaning given such term in section 431 of the Personal 
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 
(8 U.S.C. 1641).
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