The government funding package unveiled today doesn't include an internet subsidy that more than 23 million Americans rely on, Maria reports.

Why it matters: The appropriations package was one of the last viable ways to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program before it dries up at the end of April.

Threat level: Low-income households are poised to lose the $30 monthly discount, and many of those families would lose internet access altogether.

• An FCC survey found that nearly half of the households enrolled in ACP reported having either no internet service or relying just on mobile internet service before getting the benefit.

What we're watching: Now that the appropriations process is no longer an option to fund ACP through the year, lawmakers could try to pass a standalone bill.

• But that would be significantly more difficult in a dysfunctional Congress that has a lot to do in very little time.

What they're saying: A bipartisan group of 158 lawmakers led by Rep. Yvette Clarke had called on House and Senate leaders to fund the program through the rest of the year while lawmakers negotiate a long-term solution.

• A short lapse will have "devastating consequences," including a loss in trust in the program and a re-enrollment process that may be too expensive for internet service providers, the lawmakers wrote yesterday.
• "I get the sense that a lot of folks are playing politics right now instead of thinking about what their constituents want from them. That is not only immoral, it's nonstrategic," said Carrie Joy Grimes, CEO of WorkMoney, a nonprofit that enrolled 130,000 people into the ACP.

What's next: Lawmakers are trying to find long-term funding solutions for the program.

• One idea floating around Congress is including language in legislation to reauthorize the FCC's spectrum auction authority that says auction funds can pay for the ACP program.
• Another is reforming the FCC's Universal Service Fund to make it a permanent funding mechanism for ACP.
• But Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz wants to tie some or all of the FCC's USF programs to the annual appropriations process and doesn't support using spectrum money for ACP.
• Affordable Broadband Campaign spokesperson Gigi Sohn: "It's clear that the congressional appropriations process is ill-suited to fund critical priorities like universal broadband access. We're in a moment of crisis and need a better solution."

Here's Maria's roundup of the bills you need to know this week.

1. Scoop: Rep. Elise Stefanik is gearing up to introduce the Defense Quantum Acceleration Act, an industry source told Maria.

• The bill w0uld instruct the Defense Department to create and implement a strategy for the adoption of quantum information science technology within the agency.
• The legislative language mirrors the FY24 NDAA on near-term use of quantum tech, rather than just studying it.
• But the source said the bill includes implementation actions that "take this focus to the next level."

2. The Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act would direct NIST to develop standards for identifying and labeling AI-generated content.

• The bill would also require generative AI developers and platforms to disclose AI-generated content.
• Bill sponsor Anna Eshoo told Maria she wants to streamline her bill with other watermarking efforts on Capitol Hill and get legislation across the finish line.
• Eshoo also noted that the CREATE AI Act, which would authorize the National AI Research Resource to boost participation in the technology's development, is tentatively scheduled for a markup next month.

3. The Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act would establish deadlines for the FCC to process and approve satellite licensing applications.

4. The CONSENT Act would allow people to sue when they receive sexually explicit images without their consent.

• The bill, introduced by Sens. Brian Schatz and Steve Daines, would allow for civil penalties of up to $500 for people who send those images.

Lawmakers released the second appropriations package just before 3am ET today, including funding levels for the FCC and FTC for the rest of the fiscal year.

The big picture: Congress is staring down a Friday night deadline to avoid a partial shutdown.

What's inside: The final FY24 minibus includes six bills and clocks in at over 1,000 pages. Here's the topline numbers for tech policy you need to know:

• $425.7 million for the FTC, $4 million less than last year
• $390.2 million for the FCC, the same as FY23
• $741.6 million for DHS' Science and Technology Directorate, nearly $160 million below last year's level
• $148.3 billion for the Pentagon's research, development, test and evaluation funding. That's $8.6 billion above last year's level, when the DOD accounted for almost half of all federal R&D funding.

"I strongly support today's action by the DOJ to put a stop to Apple's anticompetitive conduct. This case demonstrates why we must reinvigorate competition policy and establish clear rules of the road for Big Tech platforms."