New Dem Members Tour Rural Broadband Site, Host Broadband Roundtable in Maryland on Fourth Stop of New Dems on the Road Tour
Today, the New Democrat Coalition made the fourth stop on its New Dems on the Road Tour, an initiative spearheaded by Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) to get New Dem Members out of DC to hear from American workers, businesses, industry experts, nongovernmental organizations and local leaders about how to improve policy in Washington.
New Dem Rural Broadband Task Force Chair April McClain Delaney (MD-06) hosted Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budinski in Frederick County, Maryland to tour a local broadband construction site and hold a roundtable discussion on rural broadband with government officials, industry representatives, and local leaders.
"Having helped lead the BEAD program at NTIA, I know that access to high-speed internet in rural communities is one of the most impactful, common-sense investments we can make in America’s future,” said Task Force Chair April McClain Delaney. “So I was proud to host this roundtable in my district to highlight the real progress we’re making to close the digital divide and transform lives by expanding education, improving health care and creating good-paying jobs. I’m grateful to all the officials, industry leaders and other stakeholders who joined us today to discuss how broadband is strengthening communities right here in Maryland—and to reinforce why we must continue to work together to bring opportunity to every town across the country.”
“High speed internet access is critical for hardworking Americans in every community to reach their full potential in our 21st-century economy,” said Vice Chair Nikki Budzinski. “I’m grateful to the Fredrick Country, Maryland community for sharing their experiences, concerns, and knowledge with us today – conversations like this are pivotal to the New Dems’ work to revitalize our rural communities like mine in Illinois, Rep. Delaney’s in Maryland, and districts all across the nation. It's exactly why we’re embarking on the New Dems on the Road Tour.”
Attendees discussed commonsense policies Congress can advance to help ensure every American in every community has access to high-quality, high-speed internet. The discussion focused on tackling some of the major barriers facing rural broadband deployment, including lack of infrastructure, funding shortages, and regulatory red tape.
Background
Through New Dems on the Road, New Dem Members will hold conversations across the country to hear from the American people, with each meeting organized under the policy goals of one of the Coalition’s nine Working Groups. New Dems will meet with local leaders, stakeholders, small business owners, industry experts, and more to hear about the cost of President Trump’s chaos and what New Dems can do to fight back and make progress on the issues that really matter to the American people.
The first New Dems on the Road event was held on April 23rd in Phoenix, AZ, where New Dem Immigration and Border Security Working Group Members Reps. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and Lou Correa (CA-46) held an immigration roundtable discussion with industry and union representatives, members of the Arizona business community, and DACA recipients.
The second event was held on May 9th in Metro East, IL, where Vice Chair Nikki Budzinski hosted Environment, Climate, & Clean Energy Working Group Chair Scott Peters (CA-50) and Rep. Wesley Bell (MO-01) for a clean energy roundtable discussion with business owners, industry and union representatives, academic researchers, and utility service providers.
The third event was held on May 22nd in Wilmington, DE, where New Dem Care Economy Task Force Chair Sarah McBride (DE-AL) hosted House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05) and Economic Growth & Cost of Living Working Group Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) in her district for a care economy roundtable discussion with medical professionals, advocates, non-profit leaders, labor representatives, and care providers.
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