I think I picked a good year to give up growing any grass in my backyard, thanks to my XL sized golden retriever. However, the severity of the heat and lack of rain has really taken its toll on agriculture communities throughout a good portion of the country. It’s heartbreaking to see the reports on the nightly news and the impact this drought has already had on produce and livestock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been very consumed with looking for emergency relief for the farmers and communities impacted. When I met with Secretary Vilsack’s team recently, they mentioned that he’s working this issue 24/7. I continue to be very concerned for the future of the Rural Utilities Service and the nearly $5 billion in outstanding debt they carry from rural telecommunications providers, and hope that ensuring robust telecommunications infrastructure also stays on their radar screen. It really seems that rural America is carrying a very large burden right now, and we have continued work to do on educating the rest of America, and policymakers, on the vital role that rural America plays in our economic recovery.
