**The full Subcommittee hearing is available HERE**

**Rep. Kuster’s full remarks are available HERE**

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), a senior member of the Agriculture Committee Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit Subcommittee, participated in a hearing with USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small entitled, “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Rural Development.” During the hearing, Rep. Kuster spoke about the importance of rural development projects — like Value-Added Producer Grants, the ReConnect Broadband Program, and Healthy Food Financing Initiative — for communities in New Hampshire to expand access to broadband, healthy food, affordable energy and housing, and more.

“I want to thank Under Secretary Torres Small for joining me and my Agriculture Committee colleagues today and answering our questions,” said Rep. Kuster. “As we look toward the reauthorization of the Farm Bill in 2023, today’s hearing was a great opportunity to take stock of how we can continue to strengthen our farms and rural communities in New Hampshire and across the country. I will continue working to bring the voices of Granite State farmers, producers, and rural communities to Congress to ensure no one is left behind.”

Rep. Kuster is a fierce advocate for New Hampshire’s agricultural producers in Congress. A seasoned member of the Agriculture Committee, Kuster is well-positioned to bring the voices of NH farmers to Washington and ensure their priorities and concerns are included in critical legislation, like the Farm Bill.

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