Ne Colorado News

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo, M.D. (CO-08), Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Rural Development, on July 13 announced a slate of bills she has introduced that will help rural Coloradans. Her latest pieces of legislation include bills supporting mental health and substance abuse treatment, breaking down barriers for farmers with disabilities, and improving access to affordable childcare in rural areas. 

“Our rural communities are too often overlooked and underserved. From mental health support, to childcare, to disability accessibility, Coloradans shouldn’t have to live near major cities to access the resources they need.” said Congresswoman Caraveo. “Every Coloradan deserves the opportunity to thrive, wherever they live, and I’m proud to serve as the Ranking Member on the Rural Development Subcommittee so I can best advocate for these families.” 

Specifically, Caraveo has introduced the following pieces of legislation in her latest effort to support rural members of our community:

• Rural Wellness Act: a bipartisan bill to increase access to behavioral and mental health treatment in rural communities by prioritizing these projects in certain Rural Development grant programs. This bill also supports substance abuse treatment access by extending their set-aside and prioritized selection in these programs. Caraveo introduced this bill today alongside Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN-01).
• Think DIFFERENTLY Agriculture Accessibility Act: a bipartisan bill that will help break down barriers for farmers and farm families with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities by expanding the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) AgrAbility program. Congresswoman Caraveo introduced this bill last week alongside Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19).
• Expanding Childcare in Rural America (ECRA) Act: a bipartisan bill that aims to improve the availability and lower the cost of childcare in rural communities. Caraveo recently introduced this legislation alongside Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-3), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-5), and Tracey Mann (R-KS-1).

Seventy three percent of Colorado is considered rural, and an estimated 755,560 people live in rural areas of the state. Ahead of the 2023 Farm Bill, Caraveo has held numerous listening sessions and conducted farm visits to hear directly from some of these rural families in her District. As Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Caraveo and Chairman Dusty Johnson (R-SD at large) will craft a portion of the Farm Bill relating to rural development issues.

On the Rural Wellness Act, bill co-lead, Rep. Brad Finstad said, “Farmers and residents of rural communities are at an increased disadvantage when it comes to mental health and substance-use treatment and services. I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Rep. Caraveo to help address this need and make sure rural communities in southern Minnesota and across the country have access to the critical tools and technology they need to combat the devastating effects of mental health and substance-use challenges.” 

“The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) applauds Representatives Finstad and Caraveo for their introduction of the Rural Wellness Act to prioritize grant applications that address behavioral and mental health in critical Rural Development programs,” said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association. “This legislation will help to ensure that rural communities have adequate access to local, much needed behavioral health services. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress to address the behavioral health shortage in rural areas.”

The Rural Wellness Act is also supported by the National Association of Country Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD) and National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH).

On the Think DIFFERENTLY Agriculture Accessibility Act, bill co-lead, Rep. Molinaro said, "Farmers and farm families with disabilities face unnecessary barriers on the job and in their communities. The bipartisan Think DIFFERENTLY Agriculture Accessibility Act changes things by helping them access support services and assistive technology. This bill is going to break down barriers and empower rural Americans with disabilities to make a living.”

 “Goodwill of Colorado’s AgrAbility Project, strongly supports the recommended amendments proposed to the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to modify and extend grants for assistive technology programs for farmers with disabilities,” said Candiss Leathers, Colorado Goodwill AgrAbility Program Manager. “Our commitment to working with individuals with disability in the farm and ranch arena can only be strengthened in both the short and long term if we extend and improve the outreach and services to working with youth and young adults with disabilities so they may enter and remain in the agriculture field by providing enhanced outreach,  education and support.”

  “On behalf of tens of thousands of people with disabilities employed by hundreds of affiliated nonprofits across the U.S., SourceAmerica endorses Representatives Molinaro and Caraveo’s Think DIFFERENTLY Agriculture Accessibility Act,” said Richard Belden, CEO of SourceAmerica. “This legislation will continue to ensure people with disabilities working in the agriculture industry have access to the accommodations and support they need to succeed over the next decade, while also expanding opportunities for young adults with disabilities preparing for agricultural employment.”

AgrAbility was created in 1991 and provides federal funding for assistive technology and support services for farmers and farm families with disabilities. Funding is designed to be flexible and can be used for a wide range of assistive projects, including modifications to farm equipment and facilities to make them accessible, procurement of technology to help farmer mobility, and general counseling to ensure farmers have a trusted resource when looking for assistance for themselves or their families. Since it was created, AgrAbility has lent direct support to over 14,000 people with disabilities in rural America, including farmers and farm workers, veterans, and children. 

The Caraveo/Molinaro bill dramatically expands AgrAbility by increasing authorized funding for the program by $3 million. The bill also allows funding to be used for support and education for youth and young adults with disabilities interested in farm related careers.

On the Expanding Childcare in Rural America (ECRA) Act, bill co-lead, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-3) said, “Childcare in rural communities like mine is next to impossible to find and afford. Before coming to Congress, my husband and I brought our son to our auto repair shop most days because there were no other childcare options available. Our bipartisan bill will make childcare more accessible and affordable in rural communities so families can get the support they need no matter where they live.”

“Raising a family is one of the highest callings on earth, and people often choose where to live and work based around that calling,” said Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS-1). “The men and women who work tirelessly to feed, fuel, and clothe us all deserve to raise their families in a healthy environment full of opportunities where children can grow and learn. With this bill, Congress can improve the quality of life for rural Americans, promote low cost, high quality childcare in agricultural and rural communities, and help those communities attract and retain a vibrant and healthy workforce.”  

“During the two Farm Bill listening sessions I’ve held with Oregon farmers and ranchers, they’ve raised concerns about a lack of access to child care. I brought this problem to Secretary Vilsack’s attention when he was in front of the Agriculture Committee, but it’s clear Congress needs to take proactive steps to help these parents. I’m honored to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation that directs the USDA to help parents in rural areas find accessible, affordable, and high-quality care for their children,” Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-5) said.

The Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act is supported by the Bipartisan Policy Center, Save the Children, Early Care and Education Consortium, First Five Years Fund, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farm Medicine Center, First Focus Campaign for Children, National Farmers Union, and KinderCare Learning Companies, among others.

The companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Tina Smith (D-MN).

Original source can be found here