Washington, DC, May 29, 2014 – Bob Rapoza, Executive Secretary of the National Rural Housing Coalition, issued the following statement in response to today’s vote by the House Appropriations Committee to approve its Fiscal Year 2015 Agriculture Appropriations bill:
The National Rural Housing Coalition applauds bipartisan Congressional efforts to restore funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development programs, including those that help low-income rural families access affordable housing and grants that help small rural communities provide potable water and waste disposal systems to residents.
Both the House and Senate Appropriation bills soundly reject USDA’s proposed cuts to Rural Development programs because they are unwise and unwarranted,” says Bob Rapoza, executive secretary of NRHC.
“This is the third consecutive year that Congress has rejected Administration proposals to gut Rural Development programs. The reason is simple: rural housing and community development programs have improved housing conditions in rural America, provided communities with clean drinking water and better waste disposal systems, created jobs, and helped spur the rural economy.
Rural advocates applaud Members of Congress from both parties for their support for these important programs.