Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Expanding Access to Distance Learning and Telemedicine Act”.
Expanding Access to Distance Learning and Telemedicine Act
A BILL
To amend the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program to expand eligibility for financial assistance to include the construction and enhancement of facilities and technological systems aimed at delivering telemedicine services, strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure, and supporting distance learning initiatives, including digital literacy, workforce development, and job training, in rural communities.
Sec. 2 Telemedicine, distance learning, and cybersecurity support services in rural areas
In general— Section 2333 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa–2) is amended—
in the section heading, by striking “Telemedicine and distance learning” and inserting “Telemedicine, distance learning, and cybersecurity support”;
in subsection (a)—
by inserting “, cybersecurity support,” before “and distance”; and
by inserting “including digital literacy, workforce development, and job training” before “in rural”;
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (1)—
in subparagraph (A)—
by inserting “, cybersecurity support,” before “or distance”; and
by inserting “, including digital literacy, workforce development, and job training” before the semicolon; and
in subparagraph (B), by striking “to provide telemedicine service or distance learning service” and inserting “services described in subparagraph (A)”; and
in paragraph (4), by striking “or distance learning” and inserting “, cybersecurity support, or distance learning, digital literacy, or workforce development and job training”;
in subsection (d)—
in paragraph (12), by striking “and” at the end;
in paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(14) the need for distance workforce development and job training, including a workforce that supports the building of broadband in rural areas.”
in subsection (f)—
in paragraph (2), by striking “or distance learning” and inserting “distance learning, digital literacy, or cybersecurity”;
in paragraph (3)—
by inserting “, cybersecurity support,” after “assistance”; and
by striking “or” at the end;
in paragraph (4), by striking the period and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(5) providing distance workforce development and job training, including a workforce that supports the building of broadband in rural areas.”
Effective date— The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.