COMMENTARY: Some people remember when many rural households didn’t have electricity or running water. Although those days are long gone for most, there’s still lots of room for improvement. In fact, our American infrastructure used to be the envy of the world, but now it’s in disrepair.
This is why President Trump has made it a priority to rebuild America’s infrastructure. He proposes to devote $50 billion, which is 25 percent of new federal money, to improving infrastructure in rural America.
Preston Keres
Arthur A. Garcia
This is an unprecedented commitment. His proposal will stimulate at least $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investments over the next decade.
As Congress takes up the President’s infrastructure proposal, I am delighted to share with you some great news right now. Included in the FY 2018 budget bill that Congress just passed and President Trump signed in March is a robust investment of $600 million in rural broadband. These funds will serve as a “down payment” on the president’s full, comprehensive infrastructure funding proposal that will be further deliberated over the coming months.
USDA will use these new rural broadband funds to administer a new program that will begin to meet the administration’s goals of bringing reliable and affordable broadband e-connectivity to America’s rural towns, cities and tribal areas.
Today, 80 percent of the 24 million American households that do not have 21st Century high-speed internet are in rural areas, according to the Federal Communications Commission. That is unacceptable. America can do better for our rural citizens and for rural production sites that need e-connectivity to continue to supply the nation and the world with food, fiber, minerals and manufactured products.
As we set up the new program, USDA will work diligently to ensure that the broadband e-connectivity projects provide the most “bang for the buck” and improve access for as many rural American homes, businesses, farms, schools and health care centers as possible.
Every day, I see firsthand the tremendous difference USDA has made over the decades by investing in other rural infrastructure. Here in New Mexico, for example, last month USDA obligated over $14.4 million in loan and grant funds to the Lower Rio Grande Public Water Works Authority’s Mesquite/Brazito Sewer System Improvements Project. The funding was needed to install new wastewater sewer lines that will eliminate the use of septic tanks — which will do away with the possibility of groundwater pollution and contamination.
The project will benefit over a thousand homes and more than 20 businesses in these two communities south of Las Cruces.
These investments are the result of strong partnerships that USDA has formed over the years with local business and civic leaders.
In addition to providing infrastructure financing, USDA is addressing statutory changes, regulatory relief and cultural shifts to help improve the way the federal government serves its citizens. This approach is consistent with the secretary’s priorities: infrastructure, partnerships and innovation. All three are needed to rebuild this great nation.
During the next few weeks and months – and throughout my term – I will be meeting with business owners, developers, elected officials and rural residents to learn about your infrastructure needs and concerns. I want to hear from you about what’s working – and what we can do better.
Here’s how you can help: Please contact me or our team of specialists in our state office here in Albuquerque or our field offices located in Aztec, Las Cruces, Las Vegas, Los Lunas and in Roswell to let us know of your community’s infrastructure needs.
Together, we can ensure that USDA investments in rural infrastructure will create jobs, expand economic opportunities and help ensure that rural communities continue to be great places to live, work, start a business and raise a family.
It’s an honor to serve you.
Arthur A. Garcia is the USDA Rural Development state director for New Mexico. Agree with his opinion? Disagree? NMPolitics.net welcomes your views. Learn about submitting your own commentary here.