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USDA Rural Development Nominee Stresses Importance of Rural Healthcare, Water Programs at Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) received commitments from a Biden administration nominee to commit attention and resources to U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA programs that can aid rural healthcare and water systems.
Hyde-Smith participated in a Senate Agriculture Committee nomination hearing for Dr. Basil I. Gooden to head USDA Rural Development (RD). Gooden, the former Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, is currently Director of State Operations at USDA RD.
“Throughout Mississippi, particularly our Delta, the epicenter of our agriculture industry, we are currently facing some very severe potential hospital closures. And working on a farm is dangerous. Whether it’s equipment accidents or handling livestock, it is critical that we have access to rural healthcare,” Hyde-Smith told Gooden.
Hyde-Smith noted her work to establish a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Rural Health, support for the USDA RD Delta Health Care Services grant program, and advocacy for rural telehealth expansion.
“This committee has spent a lot of time this year talking about using the Farm Bill to strengthen rural America by supporting farmers and ranchers, but I want to make sure that we look at the healthcare situation,” Hyde-Smith said before asking Gooden what he “will do to ensure that Rural Development’s programs to support healthcare and hospitals are strong and effective.”
“I certainly share your concerns about healthcare and rural America. As a farmer myself, certainly understand the dangers of working on a farm,” Gooden said. “So, very familiar with the significant issue rural hospitals, that healthcare is across our country. And, certainly, I will commit to ensuring that we utilize our programs to rural development, and community facilities programs, and other resources work with partners to address healthcare issues in rural America.”
Hyde-Smith also advocated support of the Rural Development’s Circuit Rider program, which provides essential services to train small communities on how to best operate and maintain their water systems. She also promoted the Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act that she introduced with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto.
“These rural water programs administered by your agency are very important and helpful, but the application process also involves a lot of paperwork and a lot of red tape,” Hyde-Smith said, noting that small communities shouldn’t be forced to hire consultants just to wade through USDA paperwork requirements.
“I think we certainly have the knowledge and expertise. We may need to augment the staffing in some of our field-based operations, the boots on the ground, and I think that’s where we can focus a lot of our energy to get this job done related to rural water,” Gooden responded.
During the Thursday hearing, the committee also considered the reappointment of Summer K. Mersinger to a new term on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
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