Credit: The Garrett County Republican

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. David Trone, D-Md., joined with Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., Tuesday to reintroduce the Building Rural Investments, Development, and Growth for the Economy Act in the House of Representatives for the 117th Congress.

The goal of this bill is to bridge the economic urban-rural divide as America continues to heal from COVID-19. This legislation directs the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of State to promote the export of goods from rural regions, with a focus on small businesses. It additionally directs them to facilitate foreign investments into our rural communities.

“Rural communities like Western Maryland are chock-full of hard workers and great American small businesses,” Trone said. “We need to do everything we can to expand the markets for these American-made products,” Trone said. “This bill takes a major step towards bridging the economic divide in our country and ensuring that all Americans can prosper, no matter where they live.”

“I am proud to reintroduce this crucial legislation for rural America in the House of Representatives today,” Miller said. “The BRIDGE Act will work to close the gap between our rural and urban communities, create more jobs, and increase trade. America’s rural areas have been hit hard by COVID-19 and deserve the same opportunities as major cities to recover. As more Americans are moving out of big cities, this bill goes a long way in ensuring our small towns remain wonderful places to live, work, and raise a family.”

The BRIDGE Act was originally introduced in November during the 116th Congress.