Press Release – 

Arlington, Virginia, United States

CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Ted McKinney praised yesterday’s passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by the U.S. House of Representatives by releasing the following statement:

“State departments of agriculture commend the U.S. House of Representatives for coming together to build opportunities for agriculture and rural communities. We can all recognize the importance of a thriving U.S. agriculture industry to all people, and yesterday’s actions will connect more individuals to American grown products and provide financial sustainability for farming and ranching businesses.”

Background
Improving infrastructure and capacity for rural communities is a priority policy issue for state departments of agriculture. More than 26 percent of rural Americans lack access to broadband services compared to less than two percent of urban Americans according to the Federal Communications Commission. NASDA has consistently advocated for bipartisan solutions for investing in and modernizing rural infrastructure, and most recently, NASDA sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives encouraging lawmakers to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

NASDA members also recognized in addition to investments in digital connection, significant funding is needed to improve the rural roads, highways, waterways and railways necessary for the agricultural community to deliver their commodities and products around the world.

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NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. NASDA grows and enhances American agriculture through policy, partnerships and public engagement. To learn more about NASDA, please visit www.nasda.org.

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