[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 116 (Thursday, July 14, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3311-S3312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 712--RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR GREATER ACCESS TO RURAL 
                   AND AGRICULTURAL MEDIA PROGRAMMING

  Mrs. HYDE-SMITH (for herself, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Moran, 
and Mr. Daines) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry:

                              S. Res. 712

       Whereas individuals living in rural areas in the United 
     States need access to media content that is relevant to their 
     daily lives;
       Whereas rural and agricultural programming includes 
     agricultural weather, agribusiness news, commodity market 
     news, and western sports, and this programming is important 
     to the farmers and ranchers of the United States for their 
     way of life and making a living;
       Whereas rural and agricultural programming covers matters 
     that affect all individuals in the United States;
       Whereas all individuals in the United States need to be 
     exposed to, and informed about, what is occurring outside of 
     the major cities and suburbs of the United States;
       Whereas all individuals in the United States feel the 
     effects of inflation and supply chain shortages, and rural 
     and agricultural programming is in a unique position to 
     inform viewers of the roots of these issues;
       Whereas the population of the world is projected to grow 
     from 7,000,000,000 to approximately 9,000,000,000 by 2050, 
     and agricultural productivity will need to increase to meet 
     the growing demand for food and the projected increase in 
     consumption;
       Whereas a decrease in investment in agricultural research 
     and development would result in a negative shock to 
     agricultural productivity;
       Whereas an informed public is key to supporting the proper 
     level of investment in agricultural research and development;
       Whereas significant consolidation in the media market and 
     prioritization of consolidated media has had a negative 
     impact on

[[Page S3312]]

     access to rural and agricultural programming; and
       Whereas multichannel video programming distributors and 
     providers of digital and streaming media should make delivery 
     of rural and agricultural programming, including agricultural 
     news and western lifestyle content, a priority: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the importance of 
     rural and agricultural programming and the need for greater 
     access to rural and agricultural media programming.

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