Trone, Rural Broadband Task Force Convene for First Meeting of 117th Congress
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hannah Muldavin, Hannah.Muldavin@mail.house.gov
Trone, Rural Broadband Task Force Convene for First Meeting of 117th Congress
WASHINGTON — Last week, Congressman David Trone (MD-06) and the Rural Broadband Task Force members convened for their first meeting of the 117th Congress.
The Rural Broadband Task Force, led by House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, was created in 2019 to create solutions to the digital divide that leaves rural Americans behind. The meeting comes as millions of Americans have struggled to access tele-work, tele-learning, and tele-medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Since this pandemic started, countless workers, families, and businesses have been left behind because of a lack of high-speed internet, and we have to act now,” said Congressman Trone. “As Whip Clyburn said, just like we put electricity in every home in America over 100 years ago, it’s time we do the same with broadband. I look forward to working with my fellow Rural Broadband Task Force members to make that a reality.”
“I am pleased to partner with Congressman David Trone once again to deliver affordable, high-speed internet service to every American,” said House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn. “As the House Rural Broadband Task Force continues it’s work, we look forward to benefitting from Congressman Trone’s valuable perspective, which is informed by his sincere attention to the needs of the people of Maryland.”
Since coming to Congress in 2019, Trone has worked in a bipartisan way to make progress in the fight for universal broadband. In April 2019, the House passed his amendment that would help spur high-speed broadband deployment across Western Maryland. In June 2019, the House passed a bipartisan Trone amendment that would increase funding for grants by $5 million to expand broadband deployment into rural communities that are underserved by private sector investment. In May 2020, Trone led a group of 83 Representatives urging Congressional leadership to invest $86 billion in broadband funding in the COVID-19 response legislation.
Trone was recently named to the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, which will provide opportunities to invest in and expand our nation’s infrastructure.
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees in the 117th Congress and previously served on the Education and Labor and Foreign Affairs Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the opioid epidemic, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
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