Jim is working to expand RESP and develop a similar program to make broadband more available in rural communities throughout the country.
Expand the Rural Energy Savings Program and develop a similar program to make broadband more available in rural communities throughout the country.
Occurrences
Jim is working to expand RESP and develop a similar program to make broadband more available in rural communities throughout the country.
I am going to be as strong of an advocate for broadband being a big part of the next infrastructure package as I have ever been for anything in my life because I am convinced that that’s going to be the key to whether or not we have any real opportunities open to people in rural America.
The Task Force is developing legislation to promote high-speed internet accessibility, affordability, and adoption.
Evidence
The campaign site states that Clyburn is working to expand RESP and develop a similar program to make broadband more available in rural communities throughout the country. The same page says RESP became law in 2014.
Clyburn introduced H.R. 3849 to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to modify provisions relating to the rural energy savings program. The bill was referred to committee and did not advance into law.
Rep. Clyburn introduced H.R. 7022 to require FCC action on the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction and to set a deadline for broadband service maps. The bill was referred to committee and did not become law.
Clyburn introduced H.R. 7447 to accelerate the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction and related broadband deployment steps. Congress referred the bill to committee and it did not advance into law.
CRS states that Congress appropriated $42.45 billion to NTIA to administer the BEAD Program established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which became law in November 2021. CRS describes BEAD as the single largest federal broadband investment to date.
Clyburn's congressional page says rural America contains digital deserts and argues for affordable, accessible broadband for all Americans. It presents broadband as an active priority rather than a completed achievement.
Assessments
The promise had two linked parts: expanding the Rural Energy Savings Program and creating or advancing a comparable rural broadband availability program. Clyburn made serious, relevant legislative attempts, including bills to modify RESP and accelerate rural broadband deployment, but those bills did not become law. A major rural broadband funding program, BEAD, was later enacted through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, partially satisfying the broadband availability goal, but the evidence does not show Clyburn uniquely authored or secured that outcome. Because the RESP expansion was not delivered and the broadband result appears broader and only partly attributable to him, this merits partial credit rather than full delivery.
Clyburn made concrete federal legislative attempts aligned with both parts of the promise, including bills to modify the Rural Energy Savings Program and accelerate rural broadband deployment, but those bills did not become law. A major rural broadband-related federal outcome later occurred through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's BEAD program, but the evidence does not show that Clyburn uniquely wrote, sponsored, or materially secured that program as the direct promised analogue. Because the promised RESP expansion was not enacted and the broadband outcome is only partially attributable on this record, the promise is best scored as partial rather than delivered. The failed sponsored bills justify an effort badge.
The record shows serious legislative efforts by Clyburn to expand the Rural Energy Savings Program and advance rural broadband, including bills introduced in 2020 and 2023, but those specific bills did not become law. A major federal broadband program, BEAD, was later enacted through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, supporting partial delivery of the rural broadband goal, but the evidence does not show the RESP expansion was enacted or that Clyburn fully delivered the promised paired program outcome.