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Today, Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO) successfully amended the 2012 Farm Bill (H.R. 6083) with unanimous support during a House Agriculture Committee markup. Tipton’s amendment would help the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to better meet the water system needs of rural communities, creating local construction jobs and improving the safety of drinking water for rural Colorado families.

The budget deficit has limited the USDA’s ability to meet many of the direct loan and grant requests received for rural water and waste management projects, resulting in a backlog of more than $3 billion in applications from rural communities waiting to move forward with needed projects.

Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that in order to modernize water infrastructure and be in compliance with clean drinking water standards rural communities would need $80 billion. However, the need from rural communities for these types of projects far exceeds the USDA annual budget of $794 million in direct loans and $432 million in grants, making the expansion of private financing options through loan guarantees necessary.

“Water is the lifeblood of rural farming and ranching communities, and is arguably the most precious resource in Colorado. For rural communities, families and businesses, the ability to thrive depends on having reliable access to a safe and affordable water supply,” Tipton said. “My amendment seeks to expand access to private financing options for rural communities to build new water infrastructure or rebuild the existing water infrastructure. Once in effect, this will ensure clean, safe and reliable water supplies for rural communities, and create needed jobs in the process.”

Tipton’s amendment would direct USDA to “encourage, to the maximum extent practicable, private or cooperative lenders to finance rural water and waste disposal facilities” by utilizing loan guarantees. The amendment also encourages the USDA to focus its own resources on the neediest communities while more closely partnering with private lenders whenever possible to responsibly leverage private sector lending, increase available resources, and better meet the water supply needs of rural communities.

During the markup Tipton also voted in favor of measures for crop insurance, research and other programs that support agriculture production and rural jobs.