No Lifeline for Dead People Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 3954 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3954 To terminate the ability of eligible telecommunications carriers in certain States to use State eligibility determination processes in place of the National Verifier to determine the eligibility of consumers for Lifeline service. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 26, 2026 Ms. Ernst introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To terminate the ability of eligible telecommunications carriers in certain States to use State eligibility determination processes in place of the National Verifier to determine the eligibility of consumers for Lifeline service. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``No Lifeline for Dead People Act''. SEC. 2. MANDATORY USE OF NATIONAL VERIFIER TO DETERMINE LIFELINE ELIGIBILITY. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Eligible telecommunications carrier.--The term ``eligible telecommunications carrier'' means a common carrier designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier under section 214(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e)). (2) Lifeline service.--The term ``Lifeline service'' means voice telephony service or broadband internet access service provided under the program set forth in subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (3) National verifier.--The term ``National Verifier'' has the meaning given the term in section 54.400 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (b) Mandatory Use of National Verifier.--An eligible telecomm