By Justin Walker
Communications Specialist
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue testified Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on rebuilding American infrastructure.
The hearing focused on the Trump administration’s infrastructure proposal.
“It’s the goal of this Administration to work with the Congress—the Senate, and the House—in determining how to get this done,” Perdue said. “There is no dispute about the need for infrastructure—for America, and for job creation, and for others. And it’s up to all of us to deliver for the American people.”
Perdue was joined by Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry in discussing various policy reforms, permitting improvements and program ideas outlined in the proposal.
“Surface transportation is extremely important,” Perdue said. “Roads and bridges in rural areas where trucks cannot transport across ailing bridges contribute to a lack of productivity.”
Perdue also stressed the need for wider broadband access in rural America, an issue Trump has made a priority.
“Today, the high-speed internet is that interstate highway of the 21st Century,” Perdue said. “And we need a ubiquitous high speed internet system across this country, not only for the farm steads and the rural towns, but the fields of America.”
Perdue said there are manufacturers just waiting for rural America to gain access so they can deploy their products, which would help streamline productivity on farms and ranches.
Perry noted that infrastructure consists of a variety of assets, both public and private.
“When I say ‘infrastructure,’ most people think of roads, bridges, airports, seaports, waterways and other assets generally considered ‘public’ infrastructure,” Perry said. “Infrastructure also includes the vast, and predominantly privately owned and operated, network of rails, wires and nearly 2.4 million miles of pipelines that move the energy American families—and our economy—rely on.”
Perdue appreciated the bipartisan approach to improving infrastructure and stressed the need to reach an agreement soon.
“Let’s just get it done for the American people, because it’s needed in order for American producers in agriculture to remain competitive,” Perdue said.