Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Trump Administration Delaying Vital Funding To Help Millions Of Americans Get Access To High-Speed, Affordable Internet

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor calling out the Trump administration for delaying funding allocated to help millions of Americans gain access to affordable, high speed internet, all to help Starlink. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Last Friday, Secretary Lutnick and the administration delayed nearly $43 billion in funding to help twenty five million Americans get access to affordable high speed internet.

This funding is vital for kids to do their homework and families to stay connected. States have worked hard to get this funding program up and running. But now, to help Starlink – we know who owns that – the administration has thrown everyone back to square one.

Donald Trump seems to find endless ways to go after states like New York, and this decision delaying broadband funding does just that. It will endanger $660 million in funding to help the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers – many in rural areas, Republican districts – who lack broadband access.

I joined with Ranking Member Cantwell and Senator Luján urging the administration not to delay this funding, but they did it anyway. It’s shameful, and I will keep pushing the administration to change course.

I urge the Trump administration: don’t turn your back on rural families lacking broadband just to help Starlink.

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