On the recordMay 6, 2025
Mr. President, I am here to speak against S.J. Res. 7. This resolution would prevent millions of students, educators, and families from getting online--literally from enjoying the vast benefits and resources of the online world. Today, students and educators are dependent on broadband to learn and teach, to communicate with each other, to establish relationships and communities. Digital education has allowed for more flexible learning opportunities for all of us, whatever our ages, but most specifically, for students doing their homework, doing lectures, engaging in discussions, and so much more--all of it online. It is a different world, and now S.J. Res. 7 threatens to cut off and constrict that world. The internet can be a tremendous educational resource, opening new doors for curious students, and digital literacy skills are fundamental to succeeding in this digital economy, but that economy also creates a new system of haves and have-nots. In education, that divide is called the homework gap. It is a fundamental question of equity and fairness to close that gap. Studies have shown that without broadband at home, people earn lower grades than their connected classmates--no secret as to why. It is a resource that enables better learning and more achievement. That learning loss sets them back in career prospects and other opportunities. It sets them back for a lifetime, potentially.…





