Tuberville Introduces Budget Amendments To Bring Relief Funding to Rural Areas

Press Release

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced multiple amendments to the Senate budget resolution to direct more relief to rural areas and help them recover from the pandemic.

"The pandemic has hit rural areas in Alabama and across the country especially hard, making existing challenges like access to care, availability of high-speed internet, and the existence of good-paying jobs even more difficult," said Sen. Tuberville. "I've always said that any COVID relief bills should target those who need help most, not giveaways to those already well-off. These common-sense amendments will provide substantive, targeted relief to those most in need, including our nursing homes, small businesses, and schools."

The budget resolution provides the framework for the upcoming COVID-19 relief package. Senator Tuberville's amendments include:

Funding for Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities -- Transfers $5 billion from institutions of higher education, and another $5 billion from state and local assistance to nursing home and assisted living communities.
Funding for Rural Broadband -- Transfers $10 billion from state and local assistance to support for rural broadband.
Support for Rural States to Combat COVID -- Ensures rural states receive a minimum of 30 percent of all funds appropriated to facilitate and support COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and containment efforts.
Support for Rural States to Reopen Schools --Ensures rural states receive a minimum of 30 percent of all funds appropriated to support the safe reopening of elementary and secondary schools.
Support for Small Businesses in Rural States-- Ensures rural states receive a minimum of 30 percent of all funds appropriated for small business grants.
Funding for Rural States to Support Infrastructure -- Ensures rural states receive a minimum of 30 percent of all funds appropriated to support public transit and may use the funds for the purpose of repairing aging infrastructure.
Funding to Support Rural State and Local Governments -- Ensures rural states receive a minimum of 30 percent of all funds appropriated to support state and local governments.
Funding for Rural States to Support Higher Education -- Ensures colleges and universities located in rural states receive a minimum of 30 percent of all funds appropriated to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
To date, Sen. Tuberville has introduced more than 20 amendments to provide targeted COVID-19 relief to at-risk populations and advance Alabama priorities. For the full list of Sen. Tuberville's amendments, click HERE.

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, and HELP Committees.

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