The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the in the Senate section section on page S547 on Feb. 7.
The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Ms. Smith, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Casey):
S. 3587. A bill to modify conditions of funding for the distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program of the Rural Utilities Service, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 3587
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Connect Unserved Americans Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE, AND BROADBAND
PROGRAM.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117- 58) is amended in the third proviso under the heading
``distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program'' under the heading ``Rural Utilities Service'' under the heading ``RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS'' under the heading
``DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'' in title I of division J by striking ``50 percent'' and inserting ``80 percent''.
SEC. 3. COORDINATION WITH TREASURY DEPARTMENT ON DISTRIBUTION
OF BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT FUNDS.
(a) In General.--Section 904(b) of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (47 U.S.C. 1308(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A)--
(A) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(iv) the Department of the Treasury; and''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) the programs administered by the Department of the Treasury.''.
(b) Deadline.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the covered agencies (as defined in section 904(b) of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (47 U.S.C. 1308(b)), as amended by subsection (a) of this section) shall implement the amendments made by subsection (a) of this section.
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