Agriculture & Rural Development Archives - Page 30 of 41

Fighting For Illinois’ Agricultural Economy

As a member of Congress from a rural district and a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I understand how important our farmers and agricultural producers are to our local economy. In western and central Illinois, we have some of the richest farmland in the nation and our agricultural economy is the top industry in our region.

That’s why I’ve made growing our agricultural economy a top priority.

When I was a new member of Congress, I was proud to work across party lines to pass the first long-term Farm bill in years. This bipartisan legislation provided a stable and strong crop insurance program while maintaining funding for programs that feed hungry children and families across Illinois.

But to keep our agricultural economy growing, we need to help our farmers export their products to new economic markets. This is why I traveled to Cuba with the Illinois-Cuba Working Group and officials from the Illinois Farm Bureau to help our farmers develop the right relationships so they can export more of our agricultural products.

While we still have a lot of work to do to ensure a brighter future for our 21st century agricultural heartland, here are several recent examples of the work I’m doing.

More on Agriculture & Rural Development

Press Release

August 29, 2016

Congresswoman Bustos Announces USDA Economic Development Funding for Jo-Carroll Energy and Stephenson Service Company

ELIZABETH, IL – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) was joined by officials from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Agency to announce $126,665 in grants to Jo-Carroll Energy and a $770,000 Economic Development loan to Stephenson Service Company. These funds will be used to help these businesses continue growing and succeeding in our […]

Press Release

August 15, 2016

Bustos Lauds $3.1 Million USDA Investment to Train the Next Generation of Agricultural Innovators

ROCK ISLAND – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) applauded the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a program that will invest in the next generation of agricultural leaders. Last week, the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced the availability of $3.1 million to support a fellowship program for graduate degree (masters and […]

News

August 11, 2016

Bustos attends Stronghurst health fair during ‘heartland’ tour

Originally appeared in the Burlington Hawk Eye. STRONGHURST, Ill. — While visiting a health fair on her tour across west-central Illinois, U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos said she agreed with Hillary Clinton’s call on Congress to return to Washington, D.C. and provide funding to fight the Zika virus. “I would agree with that. I think we […]

Press Release

May 18, 2016

Bustos Statement on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard Proposal

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) issued the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a proposed rule for 2017 Renewable Fuel Standards: “If we’re ever going to break our addiction to foreign fossil fuels and become energy independent, we need to invest in American potential such as Illinois’ biofuel industry,” Congresswoman […]