ACCESS the Internet Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Aug 6, 2020

Accelerating Connected Care and Education Support Services on the Internet Act or the ACCESS the Internet Act

This bill provides funding to support distance learning and connected care in response to COVID-19.

Specifically, the bill provides funds for (1) elementary and secondary school emergency relief grants to purchase internet-connected devices and associated services that support distance learning, (2) a pilot program to award grants for the purchase and distribution of internet-connected devices for libraries in rural and low-income areas, (3) the COVID-19 Telehealth Program of the Federal Communications Commission, and (4) the furnishing of internet-connected devices and associated services to veterans for accessing telehealth services.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV] · D–WV

Committees

Appropriations Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Aug 6, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Aug 6, 2020
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Aug 6, 2020 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 4285 · HOTSPOTS Act

Source last updated: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.4515 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.4515, 116th Congress: ACCESS the Internet Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4515

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-08-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4515/BILLS-116s4515is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T18:18:18Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.4515 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.4515 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.4515, 116th Congress: ACCESS the Internet Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4515

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-08-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4515/BILLS-116s4515is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T18:18:18Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.4515 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.4515 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.4515, 116th Congress: ACCESS the Internet Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4515

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-08-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4515/BILLS-116s4515is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T18:18:18Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.4515 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.4515 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.4515, 116th Congress: ACCESS the Internet Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4515

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-08-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4515/BILLS-116s4515is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T18:18:18Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.4515 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.