As an accountant, I believe in fiscal responsibility. I am a registered Republican and have worked hard all my life. When things got tough for me, the Affordable Connections Program (ACP) saved me money, kept me connected to my doctor, and helped me find work. ACP is an investment in the American people. But Congress has not taken action to preserve ACP, and 460,000 Virginians like me will be laid off in April.
I believe that people should work if possible, and that it takes a lot of effort to achieve the American Dream. I completed my education and obtained a degree in Accounting. This is a wise career choice. As an accountant, I know exactly how to manage money. I have never needed government assistance before. Then in 2015 I got sick.
When, like me, you get sick and your years of work are unexpectedly reduced, your immediate concern becomes money. I have a disability certificate, but I don’t have enough money to live on it, so I work part-time. Despite my health problems, I found work as a security guard at various events, including political rallies and concerts.
Even though I am doing the best I can, I am still struggling to cover the basics such as housing, healthcare, transportation, and food. I don’t go to the movies or travel. I’ve stopped buying red meat and I can’t afford to go to baseball games. We are all watching the American Dream disappear in real time.
That’s why ACP is so important. With ACP, you can save $30 per month on your internet bill. As an accountant, I know it doesn’t just mean saving $30. To calculate the real cost that ACP saves us all, we need to look at the return on investment.
With the affordable internet, you can book your doctor’s appointment online and save on transportation costs. I use her ACP to find work, get a schedule, and maintain gainful employment. ACP means staying connected to friends and family. This is also directly related to people’s health. When her aunt, who has Alzheimer’s disease, went missing, we used the Internet to quickly notify her family and get her aunt home safely.
In case any of our elected officials are not accountants, let me tell you: ACP saves the government money and benefits taxpayers. If you give people a little money to use the Internet, they can help themselves and save you money in the long run. Our elected officials need to think of ACP as an investment, not a cost. The return on their investment is a healthier, working, educated, and connected America.
For now, we don’t know who we will vote for in 2024. Although I am not a fan of President Joe Biden, I am grateful to him for helping create the ACP. I want our elected officials to help us and keep our needs at the center of their work. I want to vote for the people, not the political parties that will help Americans and bring the American Dream within reach again. I will be watching closely to see who fights to preserve the ACP and understands its value. Providing affordable internet provides a return on investment for Americans.
Victor Acevedo of Richmond is an accountant and a two-year beneficiary of the Affordable Connect program. He is a member of WorkMoney, a nonprofit organization that helps people across the country reduce costs and increase income.
