IMPACT Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 25, 2021

Improving Minority Participation And Careers in Telecommunications Act or the IMPACT Act

This bill establishes a grant program to assist certain institutions of higher education with setting up a program that prepares minority students to participate in the telecommunications workforce.

Specifically, the bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, acting through the Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives, to establish the Telecommunications Workforce Training Grant Program. This grant program shall provide funds to historically Black colleges or universities, tribal colleges or universities, or minority-serving institutions to facilitate the creation of programs that (1) educate and train students to participate in the telecommunications workforce, and (2) include both a curriculum and apprenticeship or internship opportunities.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] · R–MS

Committees

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

3 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.

Mar 25, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 25, 2021
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 · Mar 25, 2021 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 1260 · United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.996 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.

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Discuss S.996, 117th Congress: IMPACT Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/996

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s996/BILLS-117s996is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. 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.996 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.996 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.

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Discuss S.996, 117th Congress: IMPACT Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/996

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s996/BILLS-117s996is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. 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.996 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.996 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.996, 117th Congress: IMPACT Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/996

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s996/BILLS-117s996is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. 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.996 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.996 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.996, 117th Congress: IMPACT Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/996

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s996/BILLS-117s996is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. 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.996 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.