,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cedd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #be1 #bjba,ms4 ,spanberger 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,wittman1 and ,mrs4 ,luria7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,oversight and ,reform ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,administrator of ,general ,services to transfer certain surplus computers and technology equipment to nonprofit computer refurbishers for repair1 distribution1 and return1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,computers for ,veterans and ,students ,act of #bjba or the ,,covs ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,access to computers and computer technology is indispensable for success in the #bast century4 ,millions of ,americans do not regularly use a computer and research shows that substantial disparities remain in both internet use and the quality of access with the digital divide concentrated among older1 less educated1 less affluent populations1 especially veterans1 low-income students1 and senior citizens4 7#b7 ,the ,,covid-#ai pandemic has highlighted the gap between those with computer access and those without4 ,millions of students1 their families1 and workers from across the economy were unable to do schoolwork1 work remotely from home1 or be able to connect to loved ones and their communities because of the digital divide4 7#c7 ,any ,federal program that distributes retired ,federal computers to a public school1 an educational nonprofit1 or a nonprofit computer refurbisher for repair and distribution would benefit from a partnership with a nonprofit organization1 whose mission is bridging the digital divide4 #c4 ,refurbishment and distribution of surplus computers and technology equipment 7a7 ,,gsa transfer ,on a quarterly basis1 the ,administrator shall transfer to participating nonprofit computer refurbishers surplus computer or technology equipment that has been declared repairable as follows3 7#a7 #dj percent for repair and distribution in accordance with subsection 7c77#a74 7#b7 #fj percent for repair and transfer in accordance with subsection 7c77#b74 7b7 ,partnership ,the ,administrator may establish a partnership with private entities to-- 7#a7 facilitate the identification of nonprofit computer refurbishers and the distribution of surplus computer or technology equipment under this section2 and 7#b7 facilitate the participation of nonprofit computer refurbishers under this section4 7c7 ,repair and distribution 7#a7 ,distribution to bridge the digital divide ,a nonprofit computer refurbisher that receives equipment under subsection 7a77#a7 shall repair and distribute such equipment to an educational institution1 a veteran1 an individual with a disability1 a low-income individual1 a student1 or a senior in need that is residing or based in the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,distribution to ,state agencies through ,,gsa ,a nonprofit computer refurbisher that receives equipment under subsection 7a77#b7 shall repair and return the equipment to the ,administrator for transfer under section #edi of title #dj1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#c7 ,inability to be reused ,a nonprofit computer refurbisher shall transfer to the ,administrator any equipment received under this subsection that is not possible to repair for reclassification under section #ajb-cf4bdj of title #da1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations4 7#d7 ,training programs ,any nonprofit computer refurbisher that receives any equipment under subsection 7a77#a7 shall offer training programs on the use of computers and technology equipment for any of the following3 7,a7 ,educational institutions4 7,b7 ,veterans4 7,c7 ,individuals with disabilities4 7,d7 ,low-income individuals4 7,e7 ,students4 7,f7 ,seniors4 7d7 ,reports required ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and every #b years thereafter for the next #d years1 the ,administrator shall submit to ,congress a report on the efforts of the ,administrator under this ,act4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of ,general ,services4 7#b7 ,digital divide ,the term digital divide means the gap between those who have an internet-connected computer and the skills to use the computer and those who do not4 ,principle barriers to closing this gap include access to devices1 affordability1 digital literacy1 and access to broadband4 7#c7 ,educational institution ,the term educational institution means-- 7,a7 any public or private child care center1 preschool1 elementary school1 secondary school1 accredited institution of vocational or professional education1 or institution of higher education2 and 7,b7 in the case of an accredited institution of vocational or professional education or an institution of higher education composed of more than one school1 college1 or department that is administratively a separate unit1 each such school1 college1 or department4 7#d7 ,federal agency ,the term ,federal agency has the meaning given the term federal agency in section #ajb of title #dj1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#e7 ,disability ,the term disability has the meaning given that term in section #c of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abajb74 7#f7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#g7 ,low-income individuals ,the term low income individual has the meaning given such term in section #cea of the ,small ,business ,investment ,act of #aieh 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fhi74 7#h7 ,nonprofit computer refurbisher ,the term nonprofit computer refurbisher means a nonprofit organization that primarily works to improve access to information and communication technology in their mission to bridge the digital divide4 7#i7 ,nonprofit organization ,the term nonprofit organization means an organization that is described under section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and is exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code4 7#aj7 ,repairable ,the term repairable means property that is unusable but can be economically repaired4 7#aa7 ,secondary school ,the term secondary school has the meaning given such term in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife4 7#ab7 ,senior ,the term senior means an individual who is #fe years of age or older4 7#ac7 ,senior in need ,the term senior in need means a senior who experiences cultural1 social1 or geographical isolation that-- 7,a7 restricts the ability of the senior to perform normal daily tasks2 or 7,b7 threatens the capacity of the senior to live independently4 7#ad7 ,student ,the term student means any individual enrolled in an educational institution1 but not a public or private child care center4 7#ae7 ,surplus computer or technology equipment ,the term surplus computer or technology equipment means computer or technology equipment that is property as described under section #edi7;b77#b7 of title #dj1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#af7 ,technology equipment ,the term technology equipment means any physical asset related to a computer or information technology1 including any peripheral component1 tablet1 communication device 7such as a router1 server1 or cell phone71 printer1 scanner1 uninterruptible power source1 cable1 or connection4 7#ag7 ,veteran ,the term veteran has the meaning given that term in section #aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 #d4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such funds as are necessary to carry out this ,act4