[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 113 (Thursday, June 18, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           INTRODUCTION OF THE FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD REPAIR ACT

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 18, 2020

  Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Farm-to-
Market Road Repair Act, legislation that will expand eligibility for 
the Surface Transportation Block Grant program to include rural roads 
that serve to transport agriculture products from farms or ranches to 
the marketplace.
  American agricultural communities play a pivotal role in the economy 
within my district and across America. These farms and ranches provide 
the communities they serve with fresh products daily, ensuring 
consumers have an adequate and healthy food supply. Unfortunately, many 
of the roads are deteriorating.
  Over 70 percent of our nation's total road mileage is in rural areas, 
yet, between 2009 and 2015, these roads have only seen about 37 percent 
of federal highway fund. As Congress debates how to move forward with a 
bold plan to address infrastructure, we need to ensure road-repair 
projects like these do not fall by the wayside as we seek to address 
other larger infrastructure projects. Just because a road is in a rural 
area does not mean the road is small or otherwise unimportant. To the 
contrary, I am aware of several rural road projects in my district and 
the surrounding region that are major connectors that would benefit 
from this type of funding opportunity.
  My bill expands the current surface block grant program to include 
these roads--roads that serve as a lifeline to the people that depend 
on them. We must invest in our rural infrastructure now, before it is 
in complete disrepair. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

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