Senate Approves FY 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill

The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act, providing support for law enforcement, economic development, scientific research, and other national priorities. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 19-10, provides $79.7 billion in discretionary funding, including $6.6 billion in defense funding and $73.1 billion in nondefense funding. 

• Broadband Investments under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [IIJA].—In Public Law 117–58, Congress made a historic $65,000,000,000 investment in broadband infrastructure, equity, and affordability with the goal of connecting all Americans to high- speed, reliable, and affordable Internet service. These investments included $42,450,000,000 for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment [BEAD] program. The Committee supports the prompt liquidation of BEAD funding to States in alignment with their approved state broadband plans. These investments also included $2,750,000,000 to support three programs under the Digital Equity Act to equip individuals and communities with the skills and tools needed for full participation in all aspects of society. The Committee notes that NTIA has not issued any notice of funding opportunity [NOFO] for the fiscal year 2025 Digital Equity Act grant funding as required by the IIJA. Should NTIA fail to release the NOFOs by the time of the enactment of this act, the Committee directs NTIA to issue them immediately upon enactment of this act.
• Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program.—The Committee notes the historic investments Congress has made through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260) and the IIJA. The Committee directs NTIA to continue engaging with eligible entities to ensure the full potential of these investments is realized. The Committee also directs NTIA to accept applications for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program by mail in addition to online. The Committee notes the challenges of delivering broadband infrastructure to first- time users in rural and remote areas, such as limited construction seasons and higher costs for materials due to inflation. The Committee encourages NTIA to review such challenges for construction projects and report to the Committee on the need for supplemental project funding for construction projects in rural and remote areas, in specific circumstances in which cost increases are beyond the control of the award recipient, to ensure projects reach completion. 
• Broadband Funding Map.—The Committee seeks to ensure that all Federal broadband deployment programs are working in a complementary manner to maximize reach, without waste or redundancy. No less than 90 days after the enactment of this act, the NTIA shall submit a report to the Committee with a comprehensive update on the measures NTIA has taken to coordinate with the FCC and populate the Broadband Funding Map pursuant to section 60105 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58) with the required data collected via the central database pursuant to section 903 of title IX of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260). This report should include any identification of gaps in data available or accessible to NTIA in carrying out these statutory obligations.