Issue Position: Rural Economic Development

Issue Position

New York has the third largest rural population in the United States and the natural resources of the 19th District are a crucial source of economic growth and opportunity in the region. The Hudson Valley and Catskills are home to numerous opportunities for sustainable agriculture. The dynamics in the food supply chain have changed dramatically in recent years, with more Americans expressing a demand for organic and locally grown food. The way forward economically is to help farmers and farm-dependent businesses take advantage of these changes. We must invest in local infrastructure, including distribution and processing plants, better roads and transit options, and increased access to broadband. Making these investments will allow the District to meet the needs of the local community and beyond. No one in an area with such plentiful agricultural resources should go hungry or be shut out from providing good nutritious meals for their families.

Additionally, I want to connect local agribusinesses with private capital and public funding, and reinforce public programs designed to protect those industries. Dairy farms are the biggest agricultural revenue source in NY-19, and in recent decades, the federal government has failed them. I support improving the effectiveness of federal insurance programs like the Margin Protection Program, or even reinstating a robust price support program, so that our federal policies and priorities reflect the changing landscape of this industry and the changing needs of small dairy farms. It is critical that we protect funding for rural development and farmers in our community, rather than slash it as has been proposed by the Trump administration. I understand that the increased economic activity that this would facilitate is good for the entire region.

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