[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 84 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       TRIBUTE TO DAVID BRANSCUM

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate David 
Branscum for being named Arkansas Rural Advocate of the Year by the 
Arkansas Rural Development Commission.
  Raised in Marshall, David is a third-generation cattle rancher, 
farmer, and small business owner who has dedicated more than four 
decades of his life to rural Arkansas. After graduating from the 
University of Arkansas with a degree in agriculture and economics, he 
returned home to run the family farm and lumber business. For 7 years, 
David represented House District 83 as a member of the Arkansas House 
of Representatives where he served on both the agriculture and health 
committees and chaired the legislative council. In 2017, he resigned 
from the House after Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue appointed him 
as Arkansas director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of 
Rural Development.
  In this role, David has implemented programs across the State 
intended to improve the quality of life in Arkansas' rural communities. 
These programs include rural business development grants, single and 
multifamily housing loans, community facility grants, and water and 
waste disposal monies.
  One of David's top priorities and one of the largest challenges 
facing Arkansas and much of rural America is access to reliable and 
affordable broadband connectivity. With nearly $1 billion in grant 
money available nationwide to expand broadband services to rural 
communities, he has championed this program around our State.
  I congratulate David for being named the Arkansas Rural Advocate of 
the Year. He has spent his career working to advance the economy and 
improve the standard of living for rural residents throughout Arkansas, 
and our State is a better place because of him.

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