Letter from Senator Lisa Murkowski
10/23/2012
Dear Eric:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the 2010 Census and its effect on rural housing programs in Alaska. I appreciate hearing from you and having the opportunity to respond.
S. 3240, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012 (2012 Farm Bill) passed the Senate on June 21, 2012. It included a bipartisan amendment that would allow for the extension of the "rural area" designation through 2020 for any community that would otherwise have been disqualified by the 2010 Census. Under this amendment, a community is eligible for the designation provided that its population was below 35,000 at the time of the 2010 Census.
The 2012 Farm Bill is currently awaiting consideration in the House of Representatives. Should the Senate take further action on this legislation or similar legislation affecting rural housing programs in Alaska, I will certainly keep your comments in mind. Again, thank you for contacting me.
United States Senator
http://murkowski.senate.gov*