Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) in introducing two pieces of bipartisan legislation to make rural communities much more competitive for key federal funding. The More Opportunities for Rural Economies (MORE) Grants Packagewould level the playing field between rural and urban communities and spur infrastructure development in underserved areas.
“I’m proud to join my colleagues in leading this bipartisan bill package that will expand access to economic development, transportation, education, and broadband to every part of our state and country. I am determined to ensure that all rural communities in California have access to the same federal resources and funding as any other region,” said Senator Schiff.
“When I meet with leaders from rural communities throughout the Silver State, I consistently hear one thing: they need better access to critical funding to make needed improvements to local facilities, health care, and infrastructure like water, energy and transportation,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This bipartisan grants package will help make Nevada’s rural counties more competitive and give rural areas across the country greater access to the resources they need.”
“Montana’s rural communities are at a disadvantage when competing with larger jurisdictions for federal resources, said Senator Daines. “The MORE Grants Package will help rural counties with large amounts of non-tax generating federal land increase access to economic development and broadband programs as well as transportation grants. I’m proud to support it.”
The federal government manages approximately 28 percent of the land in the United States, including over 45 percent of the land in California. Land held by the federal government does not generate tax revenue and the communities that are found in these areas are typically small, rural, and under resourced. This legislation was developed in conversation with community leaders in rural areas to help generate adequate funding for High Density Public Lands Counties (HDPLC), which are sparsely populated areas with high levels of federally owned, non-revenue-generating land. The package includes two bipartisan bills and will be particularly helpful to counties in northern and western California.
The More Opportunities for Rural Economies (MORE) from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grants Act is cosponsored by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) in addition to Senators Schiff, Cortez Masto, and Daines. It would increase the accessibility of U.S. Department of Agriculture rural development grant funding for HDPLC, including grants for health care, housing, local facilities, economic development, and infrastructure.
The More Opportunities for Rural Economies (MORE) from Department of Transportation (DOT) Grants Act would increase the accessibility of U.S. Department of Transportation grant funding for HCPLC, including grants for rural roads, bridges, airports, transit, rail, and safety.
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