Page:American Jobs Plan Fact Sheet Rural.pdf/2

 Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program and the Business and Industry Guarantee Loan Program. Expand research and development programs. As part of a historic investment in science, research, and development, the President’s plan invests in basic science research at USDA through the Agricultural Research Service, National Agriculture Statistics Service, Economic Research Service, and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. In addition, the proposal calls for an expansion of federal R&D funding to universities, including land grant universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and further support for the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to improve access to research funding. Provide dedicated funding for Tribal lands. The President’s plan includes dedicated funding for largely rural tribal areas across many programs. The President’s plan funds critical water infrastructure needs in Indian Country as well as tribal water settlements. This plan will ensure significant funds are set aside for broadband infrastructure on tribal lands and that tribal nations are consulted in program administration. It also dedicates funding to Native American homeownership and affordable housing rental opportunities in tribal areas and it will more than double the Tribal Transportation Program to provide safe and adequate transportation and public road access to and within tribal areas.

REPAIR AND REBUILD CRITICAL RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE
 * Support rural water infrastructure. The American Jobs Plan invests in programs for small and rural water systems, including more than $10 billion for grants and loans for rural or tribal communities, including disadvantaged communities.
 * Fund rural transportation infrastructure projects. The President’s infrastructure plan expands investments in the Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) and Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grants, of which at least $3 billion would go to support infrastructure projects in rural areas.
 * Expand rural housing. The President’s plan invests $2 billion in the USDA Rural Development housing programs to assist low-income rural borrowers and renters secure safe, decent homes.
 * Fix rural bridges. As part of a historic investment to repair America’s crumbling infrastructure, the President’s plan focuses $20 billion over five years exclusively on the smaller, off-system bridges, many in rural areas, that would address 12,000 of the 30,000 off-system bridges currently in poor condition.
 * Achieve 100 percent coverage of high-speed broadband. The President’s plan to close the digital divide invests up to $100 billion in broadband infrastructure, including funding to provide 100% broadband coverage in rural America and make it affordable for all Americans. These funds will prioritize broadband networks owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments, non-profits, and rural co-operatives while creating good-paying jobs in local communities.

ADVANCE CLIMATE SOLUTIONS IN RURAL AMERICA
 * Position the U.S. agricultural sector to lead the shift to net-zero. The President’s plan includes a $1 billion investment for agricultural resources management and climate-smart technologies that will open new market opportunities for farmers.