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Event Takeaways
Event Takeaways: Punchbowl News Pop-Up Conversation with Sen. Susan Collins
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![]() PRESENTED BY ![]() Thank you so much for joining our virtual pop-up Punchbowl News event with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) yesterday. The conversation focused on the future of infrastructure investments and the importance of broadband access to communities across the country. Afterward, Comcast Executive Vice President of Public Policy & Executive Vice President of Digital Equity Broderick Johnson joined Anna for a fireside conversation. ![]() Here are our key takeaways from the event: → Collins stressed the importance of broadband for rural states. The Maine Republican focused in particular on how high-speed internet is a difference maker when it comes to education, the economy and healthcare. She has seen that play out first hand in her home state, where some remote areas lack access to broadband.
→ Collins said child care and immigration reform were potential areas for bipartisan legislation in 2022. Collins was part of the G10 working group that negotiated the bipartisan infrastructure law. Collins expressed optimism her group could work together again to lower child care costs while expanding access. Collins also predicted there was a bipartisan opportunity to negotiate an immigration compromise that strengthens border security while offering a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.
→ Collins said Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) told her this week he was worried about the size of the Build Back Better package. The two are close friends and have worked on bipartisan legislation in the past. And both of them, according to Collins, believe BBB will worsen the country’s inflation crisis.
→ Collins criticized the Child Tax Credit — a major Democratic legislative priority that the party has been touting in 2021. The monthly payments to families are set to expire next month if Congress does not take action to extend the benefits, which are credited with lifting millions of children out of poverty.
→ Broderick Johnson spoke on the country’s digital divide and pointed out that 20% of Americans do not have fixed broadband at home.
A big thank you to Comcast for partnering with us on this event. Watch the full conversation here. For those of you who aren’t Punchbowl News subscribers, we hope you’ll join the community. Our free morning newsletter comes out Monday through Friday. You can sign up here. We also invite you to consider our premium community — which includes a midday and evening wrap-up as well as lots of members-only events. Become a Premium Member ![endif]>
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Introducing The Vault
We’re excited to bring you The Vault, Punchbowl News’ pipeline from Washington to Wall Street.
Each quarter reporter Brendan Pedersen will deliver buzzy financial services coverage that will include breaking news, high-profile industry and regulator interviews.
Subscribe to Punchbowl News to get the indispensable, of-the-moment financial services coverage you need straight to your inbox.