WASHINGTON - House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott delivered the following statement at today's business meeting titled “To Consider HR 4374, The Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act.”

Video of the opening statement as delivered is available here.

[As prepared for delivery]

Good afternoon and welcome.  We come together today to consider a very important and needed piece of legislation - the Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act.

The bill before us is something I am very proud of, and I am especially pleased to have worked together with the Ranking Member, Mr. Thompson, and his staff on it.

We had a thoughtful and thorough Full Committee hearing on rural broadband earlier this year, and we learned of the issues facing broadband deployment in rural America.  This bill provides actionable items to realize the fulfillment of broadband service to those rural communities most in need.

It is impossible to overstate how important it is that we get every single resident of rural America connected to high speed and affordable broadband. This connectivity is a lifeline in so many ways for so many people.

I want to make one thing abundantly clear.  This committee – the House Agriculture Committee – is taking the lead on this issue. We know what rural America needs and what they’re asking for, and it’s absolutely vital that House Agriculture be the guiding light on this issue.

I look forward to continuing to work with Ranking Member Thompson and our fellow Members here on the Committee to make the case on behalf of our rural residents, our ag producers and foresters, and our rural small businesses.