The Rural Infrastructure Advancement Act legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. Soy Transportation Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek says it’s important to fund infrastructure at both the urban and rural levels. He says while urban needs are usually concentrated on with infrastructure bills, this measure doesn’t leave out the infrastructure needs of Rural America making it a positive bill.
The Rural Infrastructure Advancement Act sponsored by Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker calls for funding of roads and bridges as well as providing technical assistance to rural communities with their infrastructure projects. Steenhoek says that’s a very important component of the legislation.
He says for infrastructure legislation to get approved, it takes not only the cooperation of state and local officials but also the federal government must be involved and work with those government agencies.
The Rural Infrastructure Advancement Act also calls for establishing a pilot program that retains expert firms with DOT approval that provide financial, technical and legal assistance to rural project sponsors.
