Press Releases
Finstad, Stauber Introduce Legislation to Protect Infrastructure Investments for Rural Communities
April 28, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Brad Finstad (MN-01) and Representative Pete Stauber (MN-08) introduced the Rebuilding Rural Roads Act, which would change the definition of “rural” under the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program, giving rural communities greater opportunity to secure infrastructure investments.
Currently, the definition of “rural area” for eligible applicants under the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program is 200,000 in population or less. The Rebuilding Rural Roads Act would lower the definition to 20,000, putting the Department of Transportation in line with other federal agencies, such as the USDA's Office of Rural Development and the Small Business Administration.
“Our small and rural communities are historically at a disadvantage when it comes to receiving federal transportation dollars,” said Rep. Finstad. “Small towns and rural counties shouldn’t have to compete with major cities and urban areas for funding intended for rural communities. The Rebuilding Rural Roads Act would level the playing field for rural America by making sure the eligibility requirements for these grant dollars accurately represent rural communities.”
“Far too often, rural America takes a back seat in Washington to the interests of big cities, and the Biden Administration’s Rural Surface Transportation Grant is just another example,” said Rep. Stauber. “The grant program, which intends to support transportation infrastructure projects that would increase connectivity and economic growth in rural areas, defines rural as communities with populations of 200,000 or less. By this definition, the only cities in Minnesota that do not meet the rural definition are Minneapolis and Saint Paul. As a representative of a truly rural district, this is simply unacceptable. I am grateful to work with Rep. Finstad to ensure that the Rural Surface Transportation Grant program actually serves smaller communities in need of assistance. I will always fight for our rural communities because rural America matters.”
Full text of the legislation can be found here.
Currently, the definition of “rural area” for eligible applicants under the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program is 200,000 in population or less. The Rebuilding Rural Roads Act would lower the definition to 20,000, putting the Department of Transportation in line with other federal agencies, such as the USDA's Office of Rural Development and the Small Business Administration.
“Our small and rural communities are historically at a disadvantage when it comes to receiving federal transportation dollars,” said Rep. Finstad. “Small towns and rural counties shouldn’t have to compete with major cities and urban areas for funding intended for rural communities. The Rebuilding Rural Roads Act would level the playing field for rural America by making sure the eligibility requirements for these grant dollars accurately represent rural communities.”
“Far too often, rural America takes a back seat in Washington to the interests of big cities, and the Biden Administration’s Rural Surface Transportation Grant is just another example,” said Rep. Stauber. “The grant program, which intends to support transportation infrastructure projects that would increase connectivity and economic growth in rural areas, defines rural as communities with populations of 200,000 or less. By this definition, the only cities in Minnesota that do not meet the rural definition are Minneapolis and Saint Paul. As a representative of a truly rural district, this is simply unacceptable. I am grateful to work with Rep. Finstad to ensure that the Rural Surface Transportation Grant program actually serves smaller communities in need of assistance. I will always fight for our rural communities because rural America matters.”
Full text of the legislation can be found here.
