Senator Metzger Advocates for Federal Funding for Rural Communities amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Hudson Valley and Catskills, NY…Senator Jen Metzger (SD-42) this week joined five New York State lawmakers in urging federal representatives to prioritize rural communities in the next federal economic stimulus bill. Senator Metzger, who chairs the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, signed on to the joint letter to U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer with like-minded colleagues to advocate for the nation’s next federal COVID-19 economic relief package to include robust funding for states and localities with a focus on rural communities. 

“Even before the current pandemic, rural communities were struggling to fund and operate aging health care and transportation systems,” stated the letter. “Despite the inequities they face, rural communities provide not only the nation, but the world with a safe and affordable food supply.”

“Due to the disastrous impact of COVID-19, rural communities struggle now more than ever to survive. New York State’s projected $15 billion revenue shortfall, together with lost tax revenue in county and local budgets, will force job losses and cuts to important rural programs, at a time when costs for health care, emergency services, and managing supply chains have never been higher. Only the federal government has the resources to immediately keep states and localities solvent,” said the letter. The full document can be viewed here.

###