Peter Welch

The reality is that rurality is not a straight line.

Today along with Senator Marshall, I introduced the Reconnecting Rural America Act.

Our overall job is to revitalize rural America, and the health of rural America.

We need a rural broadband that will do three things.

When our communities lack access to quality internet, they are locked out of the global economy.

One-third of rural Americans are unable to access broadband of 100 Mbps.

I believe that unless we have an agency that is going to address these questions from social media and AI, we really don't have much of a defense against the bad stuff.

I support the ReConnecting Rural America Act, with the modifications that I noted in my testimony.

Our overall job is to revitalize rural America, and the health of rural America.

The benefit of the USDA having greater flexibility coordinating with other Federal agencies, I think the benefit there is USDA's rich history in its commitment to rural America.

I applaud the Appropriations Act providing $365 million for Round 5 of ReConnect, but it undermines two key characteristics of the ReConnect program.

Today along with Senator Marshall, I introduced the Reconnecting Rural America Act.

When our communities lack access to quality internet, they are locked out of the global economy and cutoff from critical services.

Now is the time to focus on fiber and get fiber everywhere, as soon as possible, as it will be the most efficient use of the Federal funding dollars that are available.

The reality is that rurality is not a straight line.

We need a rural broadband that will do three things.

One-third of rural Americans are unable to access broadband of 100 Mbps, and you have got to have speed.

We absolutely have to have an agency. What its scope of engagement is has to be defined by us.

There is an enormous pressure on you to be, quote, 'efficient.' That gets translated into being big.

We have an enormous appreciation for small local agriculture because it does so much for the people who live in that area.

How do we maintain local agriculture, small family agriculture, for the values that it represents?

I believe it does. These renewable natural gas digesters are fantastic technology.

Farmers, we want to participate in every single sustainability program.

In Vermont, dairy has been our backbone in terms of playing that role historically, and it is under immense pressure.

There is an enormous pressure on you to be, quote, 'efficient.' That gets translated into being big.