Bipartisan Push to Secure Internet Access for Veterans

In the wake of the pivotal events of 9/11, many Americans, including Sid Goodfriend, Chairman of American Corporate Partners, found renewed purpose in supporting veterans and their families. Goodfriend's commitment to easing the transition to civilian life for veterans has highlighted the unique challenges they face, challenges that individuals like Walter Prescher, a Methodist pastor and veteran of three tours in Iraq, know all too well.

Prescher, a father of 12 with nine children still at home, has worked alongside organizations such as Easter Seals in the Greater Houston area to help people, including veterans, sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). This federal subsidy, which provides $30 to $75 a month towards internet access for low-income households, has been transformative for the Prescher family, cutting down homework completion time from three hours to a mere 45 minutes thanks to faster internet speeds.

But the ACP's benefits extend far beyond educational support; it has been critical for veterans to access important telehealth services. Mental health support, job skills training, and assistance with job applications are among the remote services made possible by the ACP, which is currently at risk of expiring at the end of May. This expiration could impact 23 million Americans, including around one million veterans, according to advocates of the program.

Representative Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., a leading advocate for the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act, is working tirelessly to ensure the ACP remains funded through the end of the year. Clarke emphasizes the ACP's role as a crucial lifeline, enabling economically burdened individuals, including veterans, to keep up with the cost of living and maintain access to essential broadband services necessary for obtaining food and medication.

Joining Clarke in this bipartisan effort is Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., who leads Republican support for extending the ACP. Fitzpatrick echoes the sentiment that in today's digital world, broadband internet access is a necessity, not a luxury. He is calling for increased Republican backing, underlining that many of the ACP's beneficiaries are military veterans reliant on its services.

With 206 House Democratic co-sponsors and 24 Republican co-sponsors, the bill to extend the ACP reflects a robust bipartisan initiative. Lawmakers, including Clarke and Fitzpatrick, are pressuring Speaker Mike Johnson to schedule a vote on the ACP Extension Act promptly to ensure its benefits continue before the current subsidy expires.

The White House and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are also actively lobbying Congress to extend funding for the ACP, pointing to its critical role in ensuring ongoing internet access for millions of Americans. Without the extension, many are at risk of incurring higher internet bills or outright loss of access—a situation that could disproportionately affect veterans who have already sacrificed so much. The extension of the ACP is not just a matter of connectivity; it's about continuing to honor and support those who have served the nation.

Conservative Bias:

Once again, we're witnessing the liberal agenda at work, folks, with their insatiable appetite for government handouts and entitlement programs. This so-called Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is just another example of Democrats throwing taxpayer money at a problem instead of promoting self-reliance and the free market. They want to make veterans dependent on government aid, rather than empowering them to stand on their own two feet. It's clear that the left's real goal is to expand government control over every aspect of our lives, including the internet. And now, they're using the noble cause of supporting our veterans as a smokescreen to advance their socialist policies, with Representative Yvette Clarke leading the charge. It's time for true patriots to stand up and demand a return to conservative values that honor our veterans with real opportunities, not just endless handouts.

Liberal Bias:

Here we are again, facing the stark reality of the conservative cold heart, as they stand ready to pull the plug on a program that offers a lifeline to our most deserving citizens—our veterans. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) represents a critical support system that's under threat, thanks to the relentless conservative obsession with cutting vital services under the guise of fiscal responsibility. Representative Yvette Clarke and her allies are fighting tooth and nail to keep the ACP alive, while the GOP, led by the likes of Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, drag their feet, offering only t***n support. It's a classic conservative move: pay lip service to our troops when it's politically convenient, then abandon them when it's time to actually support their needs. The refusal to fully back the extension of the ACP is nothing short of a betrayal to those who have served, sacrificed, and now rely on this program for basic necessities like healthcare and job opportunities. It's a disgrace, and it's time to call out these conservative politicians for their failure to honor and protect our veterans.