{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-welcomes-iowan-nominated-for-senior-usda-rural-development-role", "Grassley Welcomes Iowan Nominated for Senior USDA Rural Development Role", "2025-11-05", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "IA", "Chuck Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", "grassley", "https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a lifelong family farmer and a Senate Agriculture Committee member, questioned Glen Smith of Atlantic, Iowa about the need to support ethanol and biofuels and to improve loan functions at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support family farmers.\n\nGrassley also discussed the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, which drives economic growth in rural communities where access to financing for improvements and new projects is difficult.\n\nSmith is nominated to serve as Under Secretary for Rural Development at USDA.\n\nVIDEO\n\nOn the importance of Iowa values:\n\nI\u2019m glad your roots are deep in rural America because you\u2019ve been in this town long enough to know that this city is an island surrounded by reality. And, I\u2019m glad to have some of your common sense, been here for a few years.\n\nOn the need to improve loan functions at USDA:\n\nYou have spoken a little bit about your work on the farm credit system. I know you know the importance of federal loan programs, and I think of rural hospitals as an example in this area. But I\u2019m not asking you just about rural hospitals.\n\nHow will you use your experience at the Farm Credit Administration to improve loan functions at the USDA?\n\nOn support for ethanol:\n\nSo, you have an ethanol plant in your backyard. I do as well. Iowa is home to [more than] 40 of these plants. We\u2019re a national leader in biofuels.\n\nEthanol demand increases corn demand, supporting farmers. Do you agree that supporting ethanol \u2014 now, I know you can\u2019t make decisions in this area. It\u2019s mostly in the [jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency]. But you can sure be an advocate.\n\nDo you agree that supporting ethanol and other biofuels in turn supports rural communities and that we should expand domestic production, use and export markets for ethanol?\n\nOn proactive support for biofuels:\n\n...[S]peaking up for rural development is very important ... don\u2019t wait for opportunities to come to you. Seek them out.\n\nThis town is kind of ignorant about biofuels and ethanol. Maybe people in this room aren\u2019t, because this is an Agricultural Committee room. But, just remember that, when you hear people pronounce ethanol \u201cee-thanol,\u201d you\u2019re talking to somebody that doesn\u2019t know much about the program.\n\nOn critical programs for Iowa\u2019s Rural Electric Cooperatives:\n\nThe Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (REDLG) ... is a critical tool for Iowa\u2019s Rural Electric Cooperatives. These loans and grants drive economic growth in rural communities that would otherwise not have access to financing for improvements and new projects.\n\nWill you work with my office and appropriators to ensure the [Renewable Energy Credits] are supported through the REDLG program, [Rural Energy For America Program] and similar programs?", 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://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-welcomes-iowan-nominated-for-senior-usda-rural-development-role"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4937659725546837, "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"}