Appropriations and COVID-19 relief bill has implications in rural America

In late December, Congress passed the Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020. A lot has happened in the time since, but we believe this legislation deserves a second look. As a joint COVID-19 relief and fiscal year 2021 appropriations bill, funded at $2.3 trillion, this act has strong implications in rural America.

Within the spending package, several U.S. Department of Agriculture programs advocated for by the Center for Rural Affairs were included and funded at requested levels.

The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program, which serves as the lifeline for small rural businesses, receive...