Democrats Won't Get All by Reconciliation: Schumer
Congressional leaders and telecom policy observers signaled Thursday they expect major cuts to a budget reconciliation package that Democrats have aimed to include connectivity money. Some believe any move to reduce the scope from the $3.5 trillion congressional Democrats envisioned in August could endanger proposed money for the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund and next-generation 911 (see 2110010001).
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York wrote the chamber’s Democratic caucus Thursday urging the 50 members to “put aside our differences” and reach a deal for passage. The package’s fate is intertwined with that of the Senate-passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HR-3684), which includes $65 billion for broadband. “Not every member will get everything he or she wants” in reconciliation, and all Democrats need to “find common ground,” Schumer said.
House leaders plan to “trim” the $3.5 trillion version of its Build Back Better Act reconciliation proposal “very, very carefully -- and with a whole lot of trepidation,” said House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., on CBS. “We are trying to get down to $2 trillion” but “we need to be very careful” in seeking cuts to satisfy Democratic centrists “because we have a very diverse caucus.” The House Commerce Committee advanced its part of the measure with $10 billion for NG-911 and $4 billion for ECF (see 2109140063).
The Biden administration signaled its patience with congressional talks is waning. There has been “serious progress,” but “the time for negotiations is nearing an end because there is an urgency to pass” both HR-3684 and the reconciliation package, the White House said in a statement. “Soon it will be time for negotiations to conclude so we can move forward with both.”
Morgan Lewis’ Andrew Lipman believes the House will pass HR-3684 by Oct. 31 without altering broadband language. The $65 billion allocated for connectivity is likely to be the “floor” for telecom money rather than the “ceiling” given the push to allocate additional funding via reconciliation, Lipman said during an Incompas virtual event. “We’ll see” whether telecom money will remain in the Build Back Better Act once congressional leaders make cuts.
Lipman expects Congress to move on reconciliation in November or December. Some lawmakers are continuing to press for additional broadband money beyond what House Commerce proposed, including to “bridge the gap” between the FCC’s current $50 monthly emergency broadband benefit subsidy and HR-3684’s proposal to extend the program while reducing it to $30 monthly, he said.