Political Quotes

“I am a strong supporter of H.R. 3055, an appropriations package that makes essential investments in economic development, the rule of law, agriculture, our public lands, the environment, our military servicemembers, and our veterans. I rise today to highlight one particular set of provisions in this appropriations package that are critical to the communities that I represent, the 10-20-30 formula. This formula requires that at least 10 percent of the funds in the designated accounts be spent in counties with a poverty rate of at least 20 percent for the past 30 years. The Census Bureau has labeled nearly 500 counties as persistent poverty counties. They are both geographically and ethnically diverse: largely Black in the Deep South, White in Appalachia, Hispanic in the southwest, and Native Americans all across the West. They are politically diverse as well, with nearly three-fourths of them represented by Republicans, one-fourth by Democrats. The appropriations bills reported by the Appropriations Committee apply the 10-20-30 formula or similar funding set-asides to 17 different accounts, three more than in fiscal year 2019. Sixteen of these accounts are in the package we are considering today, ensuring persistent poverty counties receive much-needed funds for rural development. This 10-20-30 formula has worked well.…”