RCAP and RCAC, the Western RCAP, were among the 70 organizations that sent a letter asking the House Agriculture Committee this week to include funding in the Farm Bill for rural development. Since 1996, the Daily Yonder blog says, "Congress has included an average of $413 million in each Farm Bill for the Rural Development title.

The letter says:

On June 19, Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Doug O’Brien hosted June's virtual office hours for the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Twitter. O’Brien discussed the Obama administration’s efforts to create a rural America that’s built to last, through support of broadband, education, medical, and water-quality projects. In many cases, USDA works in partnership with other government entities, including Tribes, and business development organizations to create job opportunities in rural America.