This bill establishes the Digital Literacy and Equity Commission to conduct a study on digital literacy and equity, including the state of digital literacy and information literacy in the United States.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6373 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6373
To establish the Digital Literacy and Equity Commission, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 12, 2022
Mrs. Lawrence (for herself, Ms. Norton, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Scanlon, Mr.
Bowman, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Costa, and Ms. Titus) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Digital Literacy and Equity Commission, 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. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the ``Digital
Literacy and Equity Commission'' (in this Act referred to as the
``Commission'').
SEC. 2. DUTIES.
The Commission shall conduct a study on digital literacy and
equity, including--
(1) the state of digital literacy and information literacy
in the United States, including--
(A) Federal, State, and local programs aimed at
increasing digital literacy and information literacy;
and
(B) an analysis of digital literacy and information
literacy in low-income areas and disadvantaged areas;
(2) programs in other countries with the goal of increasing
digital literacy and information literacy; and
(3) the identification of strategies and best practices to
maintain increased levels of digital literacy and information
literacy in the United States.
SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of--
(1) the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications
and Information or the delegate of the Assistant Secretary;
(2) the Chairperson of the Federal Communications
Commission or the delegate of the Chairperson of the Federal
Communications Commission;
(3) the Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau of
the Federal Communications Commission or the delegate of the
Chief;
(4) the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library
Services or the delegate of the Director;
(5) the Secretary of Education or the delegate of the
Secretary;
(6) the Secretary of Health and Human Services or the
delegate of the Secretary;
(7) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the
delegate of the Secretary;
(8) 3 members appointed by the Chairperson of the
Commission--
(A) with knowledge or expertise in digital literacy
and equity;
(B) from the public or private sector, including--
(i) Federal, State, or local employees;
(ii) former Members of Congress; or
(iii) employees of academic institutions
and non-governmental organizations; and
(C) who represent diverse economic, professional,
and cultural backgrounds; and
(9) not more than 5 members appointed by the President,
from among the heads of Federal agencies, or delegates of the
heads of Federal agencies, who the President determines would
be beneficial to the Commission.
(b) Chairperson; Vice Chairperson.--The Secretary of Education or
the delegate of the Secretary shall serve as the Chairperson of the
Commission, and the Chairperson of the Federal Communications
Commission or the delegate of the Chairperson of the Federal
Communications Commission shall serve as the Vice Chairperson of the
Commission.
(c) Meetings.--
(1) First meeting.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Chairperson of the Commission
shall hold a meeting of the Commission.
(2) Subsequent meetings.--The Commission shall meet not
less than once every 4 months at a time and place determined by
the Chairperson of the Commission, and may hold such other
meetings as the Chairperson of the Commission determines are
necessary to carry out this Act.
(3) Public access.--All meetings of the Commission shall be
open to the public.
(d) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
SEC. 4. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the purpose of
carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times
and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the
Commission considers appropriate.
(b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action that
the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
SEC. 5. REPORT.
Within 2 years after the appointment of the members of the
Commission, the Chairperson of the Commission shall submit to the
Congress a report that contains--
(1) the results of the study required by section 2;
(2) recommendations on how to improve and maintain the
digital literacy and information literacy of individuals in the
United States and education in the United States relating to
digital literacy and information literacy through early
education and community outreach, with a particular focus on
increasing equity in the availability of digital literacy and
information literacy resources;
(3) recommendations for the Federal Government to create
and implement a method to measure digital literacy in the
United States, in order to aid future efforts to address
digital literacy; and
(4) a plan to increase inter-agency coordination to improve
digital literacy services provided by the Federal Government.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Digital literacy.--The term ``digital literacy'' means
the ability to use information and communication technologies
to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information,
requiring both cognitive and technical skills.
(2) Information literacy.--The term ``information
literacy'' means--
(A) the ability to recognize when information is
needed; and
(B) the ability to locate, evaluate, and use needed
information effectively.
(3) Low-income.--The term ``low-income'' has the meaning
given that term in section 1303 of the Housing and Community
Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4502).
(4) Disadvantaged area.--The term ``disadvantaged area''
means a community with an annual median household income that
is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median
household income, determined on the basis of the latest
available decennial census of the United States.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
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