Graves Unveils Economic Development Agenda
Press Release
Graves Unveils Economic Development Agenda
U.S. Congressman Sam Graves today unveiled his economic development agenda aimed at helping rural Missouri. Speaking at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Graves spoke about what he believes Congress could do to keep and attract jobs to rural Missouri.
Graves' Agenda focuses on three main areas: increased broadband deployment, keeping and attracting manufacturing jobs and balancing fair trade.
Broadband: Broadband is a high-speed Internet connection, with data transmission rates many times faster than dial-up. Graves wants to increase broadband deployment by working in the current farm bill through the "Rural Utility Service" program. Graves will propose a Consumer Tax Credit to help with affordability.
Manufacturing: These employers are critical to many cities and towns in the 6th District. The federal government can make it easier to keep and attract these facilities. Graves proposes:
a. Tax credits for investments in rural communities, particularly investments that create good manufacturing jobs and employ workers previously employed by companies that have abandoned the community.
b. A tax credit should be provided for every employee hired covered by employer provided health insurance.
c. Grants to improve infrastructure to make these communities more attractive locations for investments.
d. Grants for training local employees to fill new jobs created by these investments.
e. Relax regulation and caps on Small Business Administration loan programs within qualified communities to encourage entrepreneurship.
Fair Trade: Increasing the number of markets available helps increase farm income. However, we must make sure that those agreements do not undermine other jobs here at home. Graves proposes:
a. Retaliatory tariffs against China.
b. Enforce trading rules with any country not following the rules, particularly Mexico.
c. Extending the Buy American First Act to grants that the federal government awards.
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