Pallone Pans Pai’s Lifeline Proposal

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today in response to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai's announcement that he intends to dramatically downsize the Lifeline program:

"Chairman Pai has tried to subject the Lifeline program to a death by a thousand cuts, but he's now moved to an outright assault. Struggling families across the country depend on this program, this proposal would rip the phones from their hands. He must know how deeply dangerous this proposal is, otherwise he would have mentioned his proposal during the Committee's oversight hearing this week. This is another unfortunate example of the FCC trying to avoid congressional oversight when it chooses to act against the people it is sworn to help. Chairman Pai should realize these tactics will not work and we will fight to stop this brutal plan."

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