House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Chairman Dusty Johnson (SD-At Large) delivered the following opening statement at today's subcommittee hearing, “USDA’s Rural Development: Delivering Vital Programs and Services to Rural America.”
Remarks as prepared:
Today, we will hear from rural leaders and former USDA Rural Development officials about why the programs and services they provide are vital to rural America.
This builds on the series of rural development hearings this subcommittee has held in recent years. Last Congress, we examined programs that support broadband, energy, water systems, rural business and industry, rural cooperatives, and biomanufacturing.
USDA Rural Development is uniquely positioned to serve our rural communities. Today we will learn about various programs that provide needed investment in our rural communities’ essential infrastructure, small business, and economic development.
To highlight a few: the Community Facilities Loan and Grant Programs at Rural Development are crucial tools to provide essential community infrastructure in rural America. Projects include fire and rescue stations, village and town halls, health care clinics, hospitals, adult and child-care centers, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, public buildings, schools, libraries, and many other community-based initiatives.
The Value-Added Producer Grant Program is the unsung hero of RD programs. Farmers and ranchers are eligible for this program that helps them enter value-added activities to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase income.
The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant programs provide funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA RD provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas.
The Rural Business Investment Program promotes economic development and creates job and wealth opportunities by supporting the equity capital investment needs in rural America.
The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to help microenterprises start up and grow through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund and provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.
Most of these programs were reauthorized in the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, as they have an expiration date. As we move forward with reauthorizing expiring USDA RD programs, the feedback received here today will help us improve these vital programs that serve rural America and the rural communities we represent.
I want to thank each of our witnesses for your service to rural America and for the perspectives you bring today. I am especially excited that Ms. Lynn Forbes, my constituent, is here to share hers.
