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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 11/6/21 CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Ted McKinney praised today’s passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by the U.S. House of Representatives by releasing the following statement:
“State departments of agriculture commend the U.S. House of Representatives for coming together to build opportunities for agriculture and rural communities. We can all recognize the importance of a thriving U.S. agriculture industry to all people, and today’s actions will connect more individuals to American grown products and provide financial sustainability for farming and ranching businesses.”
Background
Improving infrastructure and capacity for rural communities is a priority
policy issue for state departments of agriculture.
More than 26 percent of rural Americans lack access to broadband services
compared to less than two percent of urban Americans according to the Federal
Communications Commission. NASDA has consistently
advocated for bipartisan solutions for investing in and
modernizing rural infrastructure, and most recently, NASDA sent a letter to
the U.S. House of Representatives encouraging lawmakers to pass the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
NASDA members also recognized in addition to investments in digital connection,
significant funding is needed to improve the rural roads, highways, waterways
and railways necessary for the agricultural community to deliver their
commodities and products around the world.
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NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and
appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of
agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. NASDA grows and enhances
American agriculture through policy, partnerships and public engagement. To
learn more about NASDA, please visit www.nasda.org.
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