Erin Houchin: “I thank the gentleman, Mr. Bilirakis, for his leadership on this important issue. I also thank my colleagues on the…”

“I thank the gentleman, Mr. Bilirakis, for his leadership on this important issue. I also thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for their support. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud support of H.R. 2399, the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025, a bill that I am proud to sponsor. Across Indiana and throughout rural America, families, farmers, students, and small business owners still struggle with slow or unreliable internet access. It is not just inconvenient, it is a barrier to opportunity, to education, to healthcare, and to economic growth. When Congress invests in rural broadband, we must ensure those dollars are getting where they are intended and that providers that are receiving those funds are capable of getting the job done. That is exactly what the Rural Broadband Protection Act does. It puts accountability and transparency in the grant review process by requiring the Federal Communications Commission to vet applicants for broadband funding based on experience, capability, and performance. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, this is a smart, bipartisan, commonsense piece of legislation, and I know my constituents back home agree. That is why today I will be voting ``yes'' on the Rural Broadband Protection Act, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.”