We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Terms and Cookie Policy
Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Internet service providers in 19 states will be receiving $554 million in funding through the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.
The new leader of USDA's rural development efforts wants to underscore the importance and diversity of farm country in her actions as undersecretary, offering priorities that mirror the Biden White House and Vilsack Department of Agriculture in the process.
A handful of states are moving to expand rural broadband service by tapping some of the funding they received from Congress through the American Rescue Plan, the stimulus bill enacted in March.
Now that the Senate has reached a deal to increase the federal debt limit, Democrats can turn their attention back to passing President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.
In a victory for progressives, House Democrats delayed passage of a bipartisan infrastructure deal as President Joe Biden also insisted Friday on passage of a more ambitious package of social spending and climate priorities. He conceded privately that the latter plan would be cut significantly.
After weeks of negotiations, the Senate moved quickly this week to pass a bipartisan infrastructure package Tuesday that was quickly followed by a party line vote early Wednesday morning to advance a $3.5 trillion budget framework.
Some moderate Democrats in the sharply divided House are raising concerns about a planned $3.5 trillion reconciliation package and don’t want its passage tied to the fate of a bipartisan infrastructure bill.
A massive bipartisan infrastructure bill the Senate is debating this week would make a historic $65 billion investment in expanding high-speed internet, but the bulk of the funding would be routed through states, and rural broadband advocates want to see the Agriculture Department play a bigger role in distributing the funding.
The Senate's proposed fiscal 2022 funding bill for the Agriculture Department and Food and Drug Administration would provide $7 billion in disaster assistance to cover producers' losses in 2020 and 2021.
