April McClain Delaney (D-MD)
Expanding Access to Distance Learning and Telemedicine Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, called the "Expanding Access to Distance Learning and Telemedicine Act," changes the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program. It expands who can get financial help to include building and improving facilities and tech systems for telemedicine and cybersecurity. It also adds support for distance learning initiatives like digital literacy, job training, and workforce development in rural areas. The goal is to help rural communities improve their tech infrastructure and workforce.
Yes· 3 of 32
- Scored +10
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill is explicitly designed to benefit rural communities via health, education, and tech infrastructure.
- Scored +8
Does this invest in rural communities?
Focuses on rural broadband infrastructure, telemedicine facilities, and digital literacy.
- Scored +7
Would students be better off under this?
Directly expands support for distance learning and digital literacy.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Health and Tech Services: People in rural areas may benefit from the construction and enhancement of facilities and technological systems used to deliver telemedicine services (Section 2).
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Better Digital Skills and Job Training: Individuals in rural communities can get support for distance learning initiatives, specifically including digital literacy, workforce development, and job training (Section 2).
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Improved Security: The bill provides for strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure, which helps protect technological systems (Section 2).
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Broadband Growth: There is specific support for workforce development and job training for a workforce that helps build broadband in rural areas (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for people are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill is explicitly designed to benefit rural communities via health, education, and tech infrastructure. Would students be better off under this? — Directly expands support for distance learning and digital literacy. Would farmers be better off under this? — Improves technology and connectivity in agricultural regions. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increases access to free or subsidized digital literacy and job training. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Telemedicine and distance learning reduce physical barriers to services. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Telemedicine facilities make healthcare more accessible for elderly rural residents. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Provides job training and workforce development in tech and broadband. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Significant benefit for tribal lands and rural indigenous communities needing broadband and health services. Would retired people be better off under this? — Improved telemedicine access is highly beneficial for retirees in rural areas. Would business owners be better off under this? — Better rural internet and a trained workforce support local business growth. Would children be better off under this? — Improves distance learning and digital literacy options for rural youth. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Increases access to healthcare and professional retraining. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Improves regional infrastructure and health service availability. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Increases telemedicine access, which is critical for veterans in rural areas. Would union members be better off under this? — Creates construction jobs for broadband expansion. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Positive impact for those living in underserved rural communities. Would high-income households be better off under this? — General improvement of rural infrastructure. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Positive impact for those living in underserved rural communities. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Positive impact for those living in underserved rural communities.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Directly expands eligibility for funding to construct and enhance telemedicine facilities in rural communities. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — Expansion of telemedicine facilities can increase access to mental health services in rural areas. Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — Stronger telemedicine infrastructure improves the ability to respond to public health crises remotely.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — Provides funding for workforce development and job training for broadband construction in rural areas. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Enhances rural infrastructure and digital literacy, which supports local economic development. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Expanded grant eligibility for tech systems may benefit rural service providers.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — Supports distance learning and the workforce needed to build broadband in rural areas. Does this give people more control over their personal data? — Cybersecurity support may lead to better data protection in rural health and education systems.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Focuses on rural broadband infrastructure, telemedicine facilities, and digital literacy.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — Specifically expands grant eligibility to include strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — Telemedicine and distance learning can significantly increase accessibility for individuals with disabilities in rural areas. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Job training and digital literacy initiatives help rural populations improve employment prospects.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Increases federal grant eligibility and program scope.
- 4/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/27/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Robert BresnahanRepublican · Pennsylvania
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Josh RileyDemocrat · New York