Providing for Consideration of H.R. Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I would like to enter into a colloquy with the agriculture chair, Mr. Bishop of Georgia.

Mr. Bishop, I have a concern about the eligibility of Piney Woods School and Farm in Piney Woods, Mississippi, which is the only African- American boarding school left in America to receive Community Facilities Grant funding.

Currently, Piney Woods is ineligible to receive Community Facilities Grant funding because its geographic location is considered to be in a suburban area in Mississippi, when, in fact, the school's location should be designated as rural. The current designation is limiting Piney Woods from receiving much-needed funding.

Can we work together to try and find a solution?

I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the subcommittee chair, for an answer.

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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, reclaiming my time.

I look forward to working with the gentleman from Georgia. There is no question that Piney Woods Country Life School is a model for helping shape minds for the future. Their record speaks for itself. The kids who are fortunate to matriculate there come out and actually do very well in society. And so it is with this spirit that I offer the opportunity for us to help Piney Woods be even better. I look forward to working on crafting a solution.

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