Political Quotes

“I would also like to echo a few of the comments Members have already heard this morning. The Appropriations subcommittees have, indeed, spent many months and countless hours in developing a bill that really and truly invests in our critical national needs, and that is from defense to rural infrastructure to major health crises, such as opioids. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations, let me add that this division of the bill has solid wins for agriculture, for the food sector, for the healthcare community, and for rural America. Members from rural districts with agriculture constituents, like I have down in Alabama, can be proud of the many accomplishments that are included in this bill. We are restoring funding and greatly adding to the needed infrastructure upgrades. This bill also provides necessary relief for American farmers and ranchers, who continued to experience a significant reduction in income over the past few years. {time} 1130 This bill today contains a downpayment on ensuring that rural America is not left behind. The rural development account in this bill today contains $625 million of commitment to expanding rural broadband in an effort to close the rural digital divide for the 23 million Americans-- more than 40 percent of all Americans--who do not have access to broadband.…”