Mankato Free Press recently tracked how Minnesota’s members of Congress voted during the legislative week ending Jan. 11. One of the topics that came up was broadband…

Funding boost for rural broadband

Voting 197 for and 229 against, the House on Jan. 10 defeated a Republican motion that sought to increase funding in HR 265 (above) for rural-broadband programs by $125 million, to a total of $565 million. The Department of Agriculture program provides communities and individuals in rural areas with grants and low-cost loans for obtaining high-speed Internet connectivity.

A yes vote was to increase the bill’s rural-broadband budget by nearly 30 percent.

Minnesota

Voting yes: Hagedorn, Emmer, Stauber

Voting no: Craig, Phillips, McCollum, Omar, Peterson