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Committee debate over $2.5M digital-access grant centers on 'DEI' language; motions fail
Summary
Lawmakers debated whether a $2.5 million federal Digital Equity Act grant for libraries should be cut because of language described as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Two motions — a substitute to strip most of the federal grant and the original funding motion — failed after tied or split votes in the House and Senate delegations.
A heated debate in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 7 turned on whether federal digital-equity grants to libraries include diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals and whether the committee should accept $2.5 million for a "Digital Access for All Idahoans" grant.
Senator Doug Carlson moved a substitute that would strip the $2.5 million digital-access grant from the Idaho Commission for Libraries' request, saying, "This is funding, that the 2,500,000.0 is funding more DEI and the legislature has taken a stand against DEI programs. That is the reason for this motion." Senator Carlson said his research had located grant language he described as DEI-related.
Senator Maryanne Cook, the original motion maker, defended the grant as local library-directed spending that targets seniors, veterans and rural residents and includes cyber-security training and devices. "DEI by itself is not a terrible thing, it depends on how it is used," Cook said during debate, noting the grant supports large-print materials, digital training for older residents and cybersecurity work for local libraries.
Committee discussion repeatedly referenced the federal statute that authorizes the funds; legislative staff identified the source as the Digital Equity Act. Members asked staff to provide the federal notice of funding opportunity for committee review.
Votes and outcomes: The substitute motion to reduce the request to $82,400 carried in the Senate delegation but failed to carry a House majority and therefore failed overall. The committee then considered the original motion to approve $2,582,400 (including the $2.5 million Digital Access grant); that motion likewise failed when the combined House delegation did not record a majority in favor. No funding was approved during the hearing; members said the item would be taken up again later.
Why it matters: The vote highlights partisan and policy tensions over federally funded programs that include equity-focused language, and it illustrates the committee's sensitivity to the provenance and permitted uses of federal grants. The Digital Equity Act is a federal program intended to improve access to digital resources; committee members asked staff for the federal funding notice so they could verify program requirements.
Ending: Committee staff said they would distribute the federal notice of funding and the item may be returned to JFAC for reconsideration in a later meeting.
