WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) issued the following statement following President Donald Trump’s speech at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 99th Annual Convention and the release of a new report by the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity outlining various recommendations to improve life in rural communities:
“I applaud President Trump for his speech to the American Farm Bureau today showing his commitment to the agricultural industry and building on the work his administration has done over the last 12 months to uphold his promise to farmers across the country. Early last year, President Trump showed he was serious about agriculture having a seat at the table when he hired Ray Starling, my former chief of staff, to advise him on agriculture policy. His speech today announcing broadband recommendations of the Rural Prosperity Task Force to help rural America thrive and overcome the challenges they face reaffirms his commitment to our agricultural community.
“I join the president in making internet connectivity in rural America a priority. Since my time as Speaker of the House in the North Carolina, I have placed significant importance on empowering rural communities with access to broadband services. I was pleased that the task force chaired by Secretary Purdue highlighted this need and I commend the president on his executive orders that he signed today that provide his administration additional direction to bring ‘broader, faster, and better internet service’ to rural America.
“By reducing burdensome regulations and passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act last year, we made tremendous progress to deliver long-overdue relief for our farmers. The North Carolina agriculture sector remains our state’s number one industry but crop prices, destructive weather, and volatile markets have had their effects. It is through policies and successes like the president outlined in his speech today that will continue preserving our agricultural industry as the state’s economic engine. I want to join the president in thanking our farmers and ranchers for their dedication to producing our food and providing us the safest, most abundant food and fiber supply in the world.”
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