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U.S. Representative Mike Bost and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced seven federal grants to allow local governments and law enforcement to better serve their communities across Southern Illinois. USDA Rural Development forges partnerships with rural communities, funding projects that bring housing, community facilities, business guarantees, utilities and other services to rural America.

U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today reintroduced the bipartisan Beginning Agriculturist Lifetime Employment (BALE) Act, legislation he introduced during the last Congress to ensure agricultural producers—especially those just getting started—have access to credit to expand or diversify their operations. The previous iteration of the bill was not signed into law, however, congressional negotiators raised the lending caps to $1.75 million, rather than the $2.5 million Bost requested. This year’s bill would again raise the cap to $2.5 million.

U.S. Representatives Mike Bost (IL-12) and Dan Lipinski today introduced the BuyAmerican.gov Act, which helps ensure that federal agencies adhere to Buy American laws and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods. Recognizing taxpayers’ overwhelming support for proposals that strengthen Buy America laws, the legislation directs the General Services Administration to establish a website, BuyAmerican.gov, to collect and display information about each request by a federal agency to bypass “Buy American” laws and purchase foreign-made products. Manufacturers and others will be able to use the site to identify contract opportunities and challenge pending “Buy American” waivers sought by federal agencies.