H.R. 9144

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9144 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9144

To include reasonable costs for high-speed internet service in the 
utility allowances for families residing in public housing, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 4, 2026

Mr. Foster (for himself, Ms. Bonamici, Mrs. Beatty, Ms. Norton, Ms. 
Dean of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Lynch) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To include reasonable costs for high-speed internet service in the 
utility allowances for families residing in public housing, 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 ``Closing the Digital Divide for 
Students Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF HIGH-SPEED INTERNET SERVICE IN PUBLIC HOUSING 
UTILITY ALLOWANCES FOR CERTAIN FAMILIES.

Subsection (b) of section 3 of the United States Housing Act of 
1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph:
``(14) Utility Allowance.--A utility allowance under this Act for 
public housing shall include costs for high-speed internet service, 
including the cost of renting or purchasing equipment necessary to 
access such service and a one-time installation fee, subject to the 
following limitations:
``(A) Cost.--The cost included in a utility allowance for a 
public housing dwelling unit pursuant to this paragraph for 
monthly internet service shall not--
``(i) exceed the lowest cost available in the area 
of such housing for such monthly high-speed internet 
service; and
``(ii) include any costs for cable or satellite 
television service or telephone service.
``(B) Family choice.--Subparagraph (A) may not be construed 
to prohibit a household in public housing from subscribing to--
``(i) a high-speed internet service the cost of 
which exceeds the cost described in subparagraph 
(A)(i); or
``(ii) any joint package for internet service 
together with cable or satellite television service or 
telephone service, or both.
``(C) Qualified families.--Costs for high-speed internet 
service may be included in a utility allowance only for a 
household that incurs such costs and includes children who 
qualify for free and reduced price lunch pursuant to section 9 
of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
1758).
``(D) Protection of minors.--Costs for high-speed internet 
service may be included in a utility allowance for a household 
only if the internet service provider, upon initial provision 
of such service for a household, provides the household with a 
specific technology capable of blocking or filtering internet 
access to visual depictions described in section 
254(h)(5)(B)(i) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
254(h)(5)(B)(i)) that provides a level of protection against 
access by minors to such depictions through the internet that 
is at least as great as the level of protection provided by a 
technology protection measure (as such term is defined in 
paragraph (7) of such section 254(h)) that meets the 
requirements for certification under such paragraph, as 
determined by the Secretary.''.
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