Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Agriculture Bill with $700 Million for USDA's ReConnect Program

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved several fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills with strong bipartisan support. The Fiscal Year 2022 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill was reported out of Committee on a vote of 25 to 5. If the bill becomes law, the USDA's ReConnect broadband program would receive $700 million.  The program will expand access to high-speed broadband to remote unserved and underserved rural areas.