Three years ago, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a significant investment aimed at enhancing America's infrastructure and competitiveness. This legislation has played a crucial role in transforming the lives of farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and communities across the nation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has utilized this law to bring economic opportunities such as telemedicine and distance learning to rural areas by investing in high-speed internet. The USDA is also working on protecting communities from wildfires through forest restoration and workforce investment while addressing environmental challenges nationwide.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated, "For three years, USDA has been working diligently and efficiently to ensure the historic resources from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law reach communities nationwide." He credited the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America Agenda for its role in these efforts.

In terms of wildfire risk reduction, nearly $5.5 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been allocated by USDA to improve forest health and support wildland firefighters. More than 11.8 million acres have been treated over three years to protect against wildfires. Additionally, programs like the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program have received substantial funding.

High-speed internet access is another area where significant progress has been made under this law. Since 2021, over $2.2 billion has been invested in ReConnect projects to expand broadband access across rural America.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) received $918 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for watershed resilience projects focused on underserved communities. These funds are being used for flood prevention projects and improving watershed infrastructure.

Overall, these initiatives reflect USDA's commitment under the Biden-Harris administration to transform America's food system with a focus on local production, fair markets, safe food access, climate-smart practices, infrastructure investments, clean energy capabilities in rural areas, and equity within its workforce.