Chairman Delgado Secures Rural Agricultural and Health Care Assistance in COVID-19 Package

Press Release

U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit (CEEC), helped secure over $1.5 billion to fund critical programs that help rural farmers and hospitals. These provisions, included in the committee-passed Agriculture and Nutrition Title of the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Reconciliation bill, will be part of Congress's next COVID-19 relief package.

"After countless meetings with rural health care providers, local governments, farmers, and families across my district -- I know this assistance will make a meaningful difference in the lives and livelihoods of many," said Rep. Antonio Delgado. "The House Agriculture Committee's COVID-19 package delivers billions to purchase food and agricultural commodities, make grants and loans to small and midsized farms, protect workers from COVID-19, and improve supply chain resilience. From assisting small meat and poultry processors to increasing SNAP benefits, this package will help farmers and keep folks fed."

"I am proud of the provisions I fought hard to include in the COVID-19 relief package as Chairman of the CEEC Subcommittee, which provides more than $1.5 billion to fund critical programs that help our farmers. The $500 million in Community Facility Program funds will provide flexible grants to rural hospitals and health providers to increase vaccine distribution and testing capacity, ramp up telehealth services, support staff, provide nutritional assistance to vulnerable individuals, and meet other needs. Additionally, this package provides critical debt relief and support for underserved farmers and producers."

Provisions CEEC Chairman Delgado helped secure:

* $500 million for the Community Facility Program to help rural hospitals and local communities. This funding will be used to increase capacity for vaccine distribution, provide medical supplies and reimbursements for COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenue, increase telehealth capabilities, construct temporary or permanent structures to provide health care services, support staffing needs for vaccinations and testing, and engage in any other efforts determined to be critical to address the pandemic, including nutritional assistance to vulnerable individuals.

* Critical debt relief and support for underserved farmers and producers who have existing USDA FSA loans and CCC Farm Storage Facility Loans.

* $1.01 billion to assist socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, forest land owners, operators and groups. Funds will support outreach, financial training, capacity building, cooperative development training and other technical assistance to socially disadvantaged groups. It will cover grants and loans to improve land access, and support pilot projects to provide assistance focused on land acquisition.

Additional Provisions:

* $3.6 billion to USDA for purchasing and distributing food and agricultural commodities, making grants and loans to small and midsized farmers, farmers markets, food processors, and distributors to respond to and protect workers from COVID-19, and to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resilience.

* $100 million to reduce the cost of Federal inspector overtime for small and very small meat and poultry processors, who are still working through processing backlogs.

* Continues the 15% increase in SNAP benefits through September 30, 2021.

* $37 million to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program to ensure low-income seniors can continue to access nutritious foods.

Source