[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E25-E26]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD REPAIR ACT OF 2021

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 11, 2021

  Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Farm-to-
Market Road Repair Act of 2021, legislation that will expand 
eligibility for the Surface Transportation Block

[[Page E26]]

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 2009-2015, 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.
  Madam Speaker, 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. This legislation was included 
in H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, when it passed in the House of 
Representatives in the 116th Congress, and I look forward to working 
with my colleagues to ensure it passes again. I urge my colleagues to 
support this measure.

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