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Lawmakers, former officials urge modernizing USDA Rural Development as farm‑bill deadline nears
Summary
Witnesses and members at a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing praised USDA Rural Development programs and urged Congress to simplify applications, restore field staffing and reauthorize expiring programs in the next farm bill to help rural hospitals, water systems, broadband and small businesses.
Chairman Johnson convened a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing on USDA Rural Development to examine programs that fund hospitals, water systems, broadband, small businesses and other rural infrastructure.
The hearing brought together former USDA officials, local elected officials and regional development leaders who said Rural Development (RD) is essential but hampered by staffing cuts, complex applications and limited grant funding. "USDA Rural Development manages more than $200,000,000,000 in loans, guarantees, and grants, delivering over 40,000,000,000 each year to communities of fewer than 50,000 people," said Betty Brand, a former deputy undersecretary for rural development and CEO of Strategic Consulting LLC.
Why it matters: Many RD programs will need…
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