{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://vindman.house.gov/2025/11/21/vindman-valadao-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-strengthen-rural-energy-for-america-program-lower-energy-costs-for-virginians/", "Vindman, Valadao Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen \u201cRural Energy for America Program,\u201d Lower Energy Costs for Virginians", "2025-11-21", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Eugene Simon Vindman", "V000138", "vindman.house.gov", "vindman", "https://vindman.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Eugene Vindman (D-Va.-07) and Congressman David Valadao (R-Calif.-22) introduced a bipartisan bill to strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA\u2019s) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).\n\n\u201cAs the only Virginian on the House Agriculture Committee, I\u2019ve heard firsthand how lower energy costs can really help farmers. We need to take real steps to make this a reality, cutting costs for agricultural producers and rural areas as they make smart investments in clean energy and storage,\u201d said Vindman. \u201cI\u2019m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to cut red tape and lower energy costs. We\u2019re not just helping farms \u2014 we\u2019re strengthening our rural economies and investing in a more sustainable future for Virginia.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a dairy farmer, I\u2019ve seen firsthand how hard our producers work to improve energy efficiency and be responsible stewards of the land,\u201d said Valadao. \u201cThe Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) helps lower costs and makes it easier for recipients to become more energy independent, and this bill makes key updates to ensure the program meets the needs of our Central Valley communities. I\u2019m proud to partner with Congressman Vindman on this bipartisan effort to help more farmers and rural small businesses take advantage of this successful program.\u201d\n\nREAP provides financial assistance to farmers, producers, and rural small business owners to install renewable energy systems and adopt energy efficiency measures. REAP has leveraged more than $2 billion in public investment \u2014 helping drive more than $2.5 billion in total rural clean\u2011energy project spending \u2014 delivering more than 586 in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in rural America.\n\nThe REAP Modernization Act would build on this success by increasing the cost share of REAP grants and raising certain grant limits. Additionally, this legislation would make it easier for farmers and small businesses to access the program by streamlining the application process and increasing assistance, outreach, and education for farmers and small businesses throughout the application process.\n\nSpecifically, the REAP Modernization Act would:\n\nIncrease the available cost share for REAP grants and the small project grant limit,\n\nStreamline the application process,\n\nImprove outreach, technical assistance, and education,\n\nAllow agricultural producer cooperatives and rural electric cooperatives to apply for financial assistance on a case-by-case basis,\n\nEstablish a study on dual use of farmland for both energy production and traditional farming,\n\nMake reduction of greenhouse gases a more integral part of the REAP program mission, and\n\nEstablish a reserve fund for underutilized technologies.\n\nThis bipartisan legislation is backed by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).\n\n\u201cThe National Rural Health Association (NRHA) applauds Representative Vindman for leading the House introduction of the Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act. Rural hospitals continue to face extreme financial strain and this legislation provides a targeted, responsible path to keep essential facilities open in the communities that need them most,\u201d said Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association. \u201cBy restoring limited state flexibility to certify \u2018necessary provider\u2019 hospitals for Critical Access Hospital designation, paired with strong guardrails on financial need, community benefit, and service expansion, this bill offers rural providers a lifeline without sacrificing accountability. With clear limits on certifications, requirements to maintain high-demand services like obstetrics or behavioral health, and mandated GAO and MedPAC evaluations, this legislation strikes the right balance between access and rural system stability. NRHA is proud to support this effort and looks forward to working with Representative Vindman and congressional leaders to protect and strengthen rural health care nationwide.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://vindman.house.gov/2025/11/21/vindman-valadao-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-strengthen-rural-energy-for-america-program-lower-energy-costs-for-virginians/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.782207913696766, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}