Letter to the Hon. Tammy Baldwin, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, and the Hon. John Hoeven, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies - Rosen Leads Colleagues in Calls to Increase Funding for Mental Health, Telehealth, and Distance Learning Programs

Letter

Dear Chairwoman Baldwin and Ranking Member Hoeven,
As you work to develop the Fiscal Year 2022 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we write to express our strong support
for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT)
grant program.
The DLT grant program assists rural and tribal communities in acquiring distance learning and
telemedical technologies so that local teachers and medical service providers can connect to
educators and medical professionals in other parts of the country. Since 1994, the DLT grant
program has helped to establish hundreds of distance learning and telemedicine systems,
improving the quality of life for thousands of residents in rural communities all across the United
States.
DLT specifically helps rural communities invest in telecommunications-enabled information,
audio and visual equipment, and advanced technologies to assist its residents in accessing
educational and health care services. Recipients have used the program to provide distance
learning paramedic courses to first responders, improve access to specialty health education, and
establish partnerships between rural high schools and community colleges. Recent DLT
recipients have used the grants to help address opioid abuse treatment and mental health
counseling in rural America.
These educational and health services are vital. DLT grants enable rural communities to
overcome any barriers they face in accessing healthcare or education, including long travel
distances or a shortage of providers. Given the critical importance of these programs, we urge
you to fund the USDA's Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program at or above the
President's request for FY22.
We appreciate your consideration of this request.