USDA Officials Defend Broadband Loan Program, Face Lawmakers' Questions on Default Rate

摘要

Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture at a March 18 hearing made the case for the rural development portion of the agency's fiscal year 2016 budget proposal, which would increase funding by $200 million, while facing questions about a high - but apparently inaccurate - default rate for broadband loans listed in the budget request. During a hearing of the House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture, rural development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies on the USDA's rural development budget request, subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R., Ala.) noted that the budget request proposes $2.6 billion for Rural Development for fiscal year 2016, an increase of $200 million above the FY 2015 enacted level. "Unfortunately, there are many questionable increases in this budget request. It also includes some decreases that have been rejected many times in the past," he said.