Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Connect SNAP Recipients to Internet

Reps Elaine Luria (D-VA) and John Katko (R-NY) introduced the Ensuring Phone and Internet Access for SNAP Recipients Act of 2021 (H.R.4275). This bipartisan bill would lower the cost of phone and internet access for households that benefit from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP recipients automatically qualify for the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline Program, which offers discounted phone and internet service. The proposed legislation would require the FCC and US Department of Agriculture to survey SNAP recipients to learn if they are enrolled in the Lifeline Program. If SNAP recipients are not enrolled, the survey would encourage their participation. This survey would present a five-year projection on enrollment and would show how the FCC can improve its Lifeline Program’s outreach efforts.