Richard Blumenthal: “On June 10, 2013, I was regretfully absent during the vote on the Leahy amendment No. 998 because of travel delays due…”

“On June 10, 2013, I was regretfully absent during the vote on the Leahy amendment No. 998 because of travel delays due to inclement weather. Had I been able to attend the vote, I would have supported passage of this amendment, which establishes a pilot program to invest in gigabit networks in rural areas. This program has the potential to greatly improve Internet access in underserved communities, which can lead to significant improvements in commerce, education, health care and other areas. I applaud the Senate's passage of this amendment. ____________________”