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HR 2474
Passed House Re-checks Congress.gov for new actions and updates the bill's status, and fills in any sponsors, committees, or related bills that are missing. It does not re-pull sponsors/cosponsors/committees/related — those rarely change — and it skips all work if nothing has changed upstream, so it's cheap to click.

Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act

Introduced Mar 27, 2025

Latest action (Mar 25, 2026) Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Referred to
Environment and Public Works Committee Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Policy area
Science, Technology, Communications
Issues
Technology & Privacy
Legislative subjects (5)
Congressional oversightGovernment studies and investigationsInternet, web applications, social mediaRural conditions and developmentSpacecraft and satellites

Summary

This bill requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on whether the Appalachian Regional Commission can effectively use satellite technology to expand broadband access. The study must be completed within one year and will examine how satellite broadband performs for business purposes, assess economic development outcomes in areas that have deployed satellite broadband, and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this approach. The results must be submitted to Congress.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)

Actions (16)
  1. Mar 25, 2026 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. · senate
  2. Mar 24, 2026 The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H2647-2648) · house
  3. Mar 24, 2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · house
  4. Mar 24, 2026 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. · house
  5. Mar 24, 2026 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  6. Mar 24, 2026 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2474. · house
  7. Mar 24, 2026 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2647-2648) · house
  8. Mar 24, 2026 Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. · house
  9. Mar 20, 2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 486. · house
  10. Mar 20, 2026 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-565. · house
  11. Jan 21, 2026 Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. · house
  12. Jan 21, 2026 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
  13. Jan 21, 2026 Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged · house
  14. Mar 27, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. · house
  15. Mar 27, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. · house
  16. Mar 27, 2025 Introduced in House

More bills on these subjects (8)

Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).

  • HR 191 — Inflation Reduction Act of 2025 (shares 5 subjects)
  • HR 3838 — Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (shares 4 subjects)
  • S 2120 — Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 (shares 3 subjects)
  • HR 7757 — KIDS Act (shares 3 subjects)
  • HR 6644 — 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (shares 3 subjects)
  • HR 7389 — Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026 (shares 3 subjects)
  • HR 6337 — ROAD to Housing Act of 2025 (shares 3 subjects)
  • HRES 1299 — Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 6644, with amendment. (shares 3 subjects)

Text versions (4)
  • Referred in Senate · Mar 25, 2026
  • Engrossed in House · Mar 24, 2026
  • Reported in House · Mar 20, 2026
  • Introduced in House · Mar 27, 2025

Full text

AN ACT

To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the capability of the Appalachian Regional Commission to include satellites in broadband projects, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act”.

SEC. 2 GAO STUDY ON SATELLITE BROADBAND.

(a) In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct, and submit to Congress the results thereof, a study on the capability of the Appalachian Regional Commission to incorporate satellites in broadband projects.

(b) Requirements.—In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall—

(1) review the capacity of satellite broadband services to be used for business purposes;

(2) evaluate economic development growth in areas that have used satellite broadband for businesses; and

(3) analyze the cost-effectiveness of implementing broadband via satellites for economic development.

Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2026.

Attest:

Clerk. 119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 2474

AN ACT

To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the capability of the Appalachian Regional Commission to include satellites in broadband projects, and for other purposes.

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