WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Sen. Ted Budd issued the following op-ed:

U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) this week introduced the bipartisan Accelerating the Growth of Rural Innovation and Tourism Opportunities to Uphold Rural Industries and Sustainable Marketplaces (AGRITOURISM) Act to support economic development and the growth of agritourism nationwide by increasing access to federal resources such as loans, grants, broadband, and educational programs to small family farmers.

"Agritourism is essential to keeping working farms afloat, especially in the aftermath of natural disasters. Without it, many of North Carolina's farms would have been forced to cease operations following Hurricane Helene. I'm proud to lead this leg...