An infrastructure proposal unveiled today by the Trump Administration would address the needs of Kentucky and other rural states and give them more control over the process, said Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, who joined other leaders from throughout the nation to discuss the plan in a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House today.
“President Trump’s election last year was a result of the American people demanding action on the pressing issues of the day. With the results of historic tax reform already occurring, the President is now turning to address one of his signature campaign issues: infrastructure,” Commissioner Quarles said. “Today, I was honored to meet with the President to discuss the important infrastructure needs of Kentucky and the rest of rural America.”
The proposed infrastructure plan sets aside $50 billion in block grants for projects in rural America. Kentucky would be able to use these funds to build and modernize infrastructure, establish high-speed internet access, as well as repair existing roads, bridges, locks, and dams, and construct new ones.
“The best part about this plan is that it will allow states to decide how to best spend these infrastructure dollars,” Commissioner Quarles said. “Governors and other local elected officials know local needs a whole lot better than Washington, D.C. does. I am glad to see President Trump’s administration continue to return power to the states, the government closest to the people.”
Commissioner Ryan Quarles currently serves as Chairman of the Republican Agriculture Commissioners Committee and as Secretary-Treasurer of the nonpartisan National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA).