Hagedorn Promotes Rural Broadband at Small Business Committee Field Hearing

Press Release

Today Rep. Jim Hagedorn (MN-01) promoted the need for reliable broadband in rural areas to help small businesses and sustain rural America. A member of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business, Hagedorn attended a field hearing in Scandia, Minn. titled, "Small Businesses and their Limitations without Reliable Access to Rural Broadband."

Hagedorn was joined by other Small Business Committee members, Reps. Pete Stauber (MN-08), Jared Golden (ME-02) and Angie Craig (MN-02), as they heard directly from small businesses that need dependable broadband to compete, expand and thrive.

"Small business leaders during today's field hearing shared the same challenges related to broadband access that I've heard from southern Minnesotans," said Hagedorn. "Without reliable, high-speed broadband, rural enterprises are often at a competitive disadvantage. As a member of both the Small Business Committee and the Agriculture Committee, I am advocating for rural broadband on behalf of small businesses, farmers and families in southern Minnesota.

"Further, as the representative of Rochester, Minn. and rural hospitals across southern Minnesota, I recognize the need for high-speed broadband for telemedicine opportunities. Doctors are using telemedicine to provide rural patients with timely, quality 21st century medical care.

"Rural America has been overlooked for far too long. I'm working with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to turn that around. We must do all possible to create opportunity and sustain our rural southern Minnesota way of life."

Jim Hagedorn was elected in 2018 to represent Minnesota's First District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He grew up on his family's grain and livestock farm near Truman. Jim's father, former U.S. Congressman Tom Hagedorn (MN-02), grandfather, and great-grandfather were all southern Minnesota farmers. Jim currently resides in the rural farming community of Blue Earth. Hagedorn brings policy experience to Capitol Hill from time spent as a congressional aide to former U.S. Congressman Arlan Stangeland (MN-07) and a congressional relations officer for two non-partisan U.S. Department of the Treasury agencies. Hagedorn serves on the House Committees on Agriculture and Small Business to promote farming, Main Street enterprises and southern Minnesota's way of life.

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