Download Production Quality Footage of Sen. Brown’sIntroduction HERE
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In Case You Missed It: Today, during a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing titled “Rural Quality of Life: Opportunities and Challenges for the Rural Care Economy,” U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced Dr. Shoshanah Inwood, Associate Professor of Community, Food and Economic Development at The Ohio State University. During her testimony, Dr. Inwood shared findings from her research examining how the availability, affordability and quality of child care affects the economic growth and the quality of life for America’s farmers and ranchers.
 
“I think every member of this Committee recognizes that many of the farmers we meet with are closer in age to us than they are to the staff sitting behind us at hearings like this. We need to take concrete steps to support beginning farmers and ranchers,” said Brown at the hearing. “Professor Inwood’s research has highlighted the importance of supporting rural families to encourage entrepreneurship and boost rural economies. In the last several Farm Bills I’ve worked to support beginning farmers and ranchers – and I know that the Chair and Ranking Member have been integral in pursuing these efforts.”
 
Last year, Brown introduced a bill allocating mandatory funding to build child care availability over the long term and treat child care like the critical infrastructure that it is for families. Brown’s Building Child Care for a Better Future Act would help close the child care gap by providing new permanent federal funding to help child care providers invest in facility upgrades, support new child care providers, help existing providers expand or upgrade their programs, train and invest in the child care workforce, and provide other technical and financial support to child care providers. 
 
Last year, Brown announced that the U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) made $500 million available in emergency rural health care grants as part of the American Rescue Plan, which Brown helped write and pass to provide critical assistance for Ohioans. The awards will be made available for rural health care facilities, and communities to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services and nutrition assistance. Beginning today, applicants may apply for assistance through Recovery Grants and Impact Grants.
 
Download production quality footage of Brown’s exchange HERE.
 

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