Friends,
This week the House and Senate answered farmers and ranchers call to action and passed the 2018 Farm Bill. Having the opportunity to see this bill from start to finish has been a surreal experience. What we put forth is a great bill that looks at agriculture from all angles. The final bill strengthens our safety net, prioritizes trade promotion, fully protects crop insurance, improves the dairy program, invests in broadband and rural health, and so much more. I couldn’t be more proud of the hard work that has been done on this bill, and I hope that producers back at home know that we listened!
This Bill Delivers!
Ahead of the 2018 Farm Bill vote, I addressed the members of the House to advocate for its passage. Kansans sent me to Congress to get a Farm Bill done. And I’m proud to say we’ve delivered for Kansans. Our bill delivers a stronger safety net for all of rural America – preserves crop insurance to help producers manage risk, makes research investments to fuel the ag economy of tomorrow, includes tele-health coordination at USDA and refinancing for rural hospitals to ensure we have healthcare available, $350 billion in a broadband loan and grant program to expand the reach of high-speed internet that is so critical to doing business in the world today, reprioritizes conservation programs so that our working lands will be productive for generations to come, and we’ve made new investments in our overseas marketing programs to ensure our producers can take advantage of every market available to them.
Plugging In
On Wednesday, the Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to provide appropriate support to recipients of the Universal Service Fund’s high-cost program. The USF high-cost program is a critical part of closing the digital divide in rural America, as it helps providers expand broadband service in areas where the cost of deployment is high. Access to broadband helps create jobs; increases opportunities for education, healthcare, and agriculture; and boosts local economies. As our country becomes increasingly connected, we must continue to work to establish the same internet capabilities in rural communities that are readily available in urban centers. Every Kansan should have access to a reliable high-speed Internet connection, and the FCC’s action yesterday will ensure that our broadband providers are better able to meet the needs of communities across the district.
ReConnecting
On Thursday, I was honored to join Agriculture Secretary Perdue as he launched a new broadband pilot program called ReConnect. The program will offer a combination of loans and grants to assist with broadband expansion in the most underserved rural areas, and looks at factors such as population density and network speeds when considering applications. Telecommunications companies along with rural electric companies, utilities, municipalities, and non-profits will be able to apply for funding, and the application process will open in February 2019. I think this is another great tool to help connect rural America, and applaud Secretary Perdue for his commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to reliable broadband no matter where they live.
Responsibility.org Leadership Award
I was honored to accept Responsibility.org’s Leadership Award. Every year, the award is bestowed upon legislators who show leadership in the fight to eliminate impaired driving and underage drinking. Impaired driving claims the lives of far too many Americans each year, and must continue to be addressed.
Bill of Rights Day
On December 15th we celebrate one of the most important documents ever created in human history, the Bill of Rights.
It not only laid the foundations for the essential rights and civil liberties we enjoy today, but it also set a shining example for the rest of the world to follow. Freedom of speech, press, and religion is the fundamental bedrock of our Constitutional Republic, and it should never be taken for granted.
I pledged when I joined the Army to support and defend these values from enemies foreign and domestic, and I will uphold that pledge to the best of my ability while serving Kansas’ 1st District in Congress.
I am so proud to report that this new Farm Bill strengthens our safety net, prioritizes trade promotion, fully protects crop insurance, improves the dairy program, and expands rural broadband and health coverage. The battle to pass this bill was fierce, but, thanks to the confidence and trust of our farmers, agricultural markets will now enjoy more stability for the next five years.
Friday, I joined Bloomberg to discuss the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, trade with China, and border security. Providing farmers and our agriculture community with a strong five-year bill was not just a goal of ours, it was a responsibility we took on when Kansans elected us to be their voice in D.C.
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.