Peter Welch

It is not reasonable, in my view, to make people pay to have a family sit together.

So, should there be an obligation on the part of the seller, an airline, to make certain that that is in fact true?

I support that. Not just one time, not just once in a generation.

One of the areas of real concern, I think, for all of us is this disinformation and just how that has all escalated.

It is why I and many others support the basic federal standards in the Freedom to Vote Act.

One urgent issue that the Commission can help to address is the barrage of harassment that is targeting election workers.

I remain concerned that in many states, voters continue to face laws that make it harder to vote.

We have got to continue to support the election officials on the front lines in our democracy who need to be able to rely on regular and steady federal funding to do their jobs.

But voters, whether you are going to vote for a conservative or liberal, I think all of us want to know that the information we are acting on is accurate.

It is why I support the John Lewis bill to repair and restore the Voting Rights Act.

We want everyone to have the opportunity, who can, to cast their ballot and for that to be counted.

I introduced the Opportunities in Organic Act that would, among other things, increase the cost-share payments for some of our underrepresented groups trying to get into farming.

I thank the distinguished Chairman from Pennsylvania and thank our witnesses. We love this Agriculture Committee.

The specter of doing anything that politically can be seen as winning or losing on the whole southern border situation gets in the way.

We've got to fix this. And it's really caught up in the situation at the southern border.

I applaud the Appropriations Act providing $365 million for Round 5 of ReConnect, but it undermines two key characteristics of the ReConnect program.

The reality is that rurality is not a straight line.

Today along with Senator Marshall, I introduced the Reconnecting Rural America Act.

We need a rural broadband that will do three things.

Our overall job is to revitalize rural America, and the health of rural America.

Thank you. The streamlined permitting seems to be a common concern that every one of you has.

Thank you. Mr. Shekleton, I appreciate your testimony about coordination, it is really important.

Thank you. Ms. Shute, can you explain the Community Union District concept in Vermont, and whether you think entities like that should be eligible for ReConnect grants?

I applaud the Appropriations Act providing $365 million for Round 5 of ReConnect, but it undermines two key characteristics of the ReConnect program.

I would like to conclude by saying that broadband is fundamentally an equity issue.