Angie Craig: “I am so incredibly honored to be appointed to the Select Committee studying economic disparities and fairness in growth.…”

“I am so incredibly honored to be appointed to the Select Committee studying economic disparities and fairness in growth. I welcome my Republican colleagues. I am especially grateful to be taking a fresh look at how we build economic growth in our rural communities. The challenges facing rural America, while longstanding, have been made even more urgent as a result of the COVID-19 public health crisis. In Congress, it is our responsibility and our moral duty to respond to the unique needs of our rural communities. Right now, in small towns across my district a lack of reliable internet access is preventing entrepreneurs from growing their small businesses. Higher insurance premiums and out-of-pocket healthcare costs are putting a strain on families' bottom lines. Access to healthcare sometimes means driving an hour to the nearest hospital. We must enter this work with an open mind to examine the issues, and we must build a roadmap that ensures our rural communities are not left behind. To be sure, the Build Back Better Act has many provisions designed to address growth in rural America, most notably, the President's Rural Partnership Program, which would empower local communities to shore up unreliable electric grids, childcare, and support small businesses that power local communities.…”