Sen Gary Peters (D-MI)

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and colleagues are sounding the alarm to President Donald Trump and Senate Republican Leader John Thune over the administration's concerted efforts to undermine the autonomy of independent agencies, citing the removal of Democratic leaders and the administration's refusal to nominate Democratic replacements to bipartisan leadership positions as required by statute. They write, "Congress designed these boards and commissions to be bipartisan and gave them the authority to regulate some of the most vital and significant parts of American life.

We write with concern regarding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s recent announcement that it is delaying the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. This unprecedented move by the NTIA will further delay our communities from having the connectivity they need to grow and thrive. To unlock the full strength of the U.S. economy, every community must have access to the vast opportunities enabled by broadband, and this can be achieved by your Administration following the law as outlined in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Senate Homeland Security Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI) and Assistant Speaker of the Hosue Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) called for increased investments in rural broadband infrastructure to support Coronavirus response efforts in historically underserved communities. In a letter to Congressional leaders, the lawmakers called for the allocation of funding in the next Coronavirus relief package to ensure low-interest financing options are available to historically underserved communities and public-private partnerships to help deploy broadband.