Representative Ken King Offers Bills to Support Rural Communities

Austin – Monday, March 25, State Representative Ken King (Canadian) laid out House Bill 3070, which would allow emergency grants for volunteer fire departments after responding to a governor declared disaster.

“This legislation will help our volunteer fire departments receive support to repair or replace their fire fighting equipment after fighting disasters around the state.” King said. “Whether it is a wildfire in the panhandle or a hurricane that hits the coast, our volunteers need to ensure they have safe and reliable equipment following these disasters, to continue to assist our communities.”

The bill will require the Texas A&M Forest Service to prioritize emergency grant requests that result from a response to a declared disaster, before other requests for grants under the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, otherwise known as 2604 grants.

Additionally, Rep. King offered House Bill 669 before the House Committee on State Affairs. If this legislation were to pass it would allow Universal Service Fund monies to be used to pay for the establishment and maintenance of broadband service in rural areas.

“After the 85th Legislature drew down federal money through the e-rate program, all schools in this state were equipped with broadband services. However, once students leave the parking lot of their school in rural Texas, they lose access to reliable internet services. This hinders their ability to connect with school resources at their home, and to continue work that might be required of them,” remarked King. “Broadband services are important to businesses in rural Texas, allowing them to communicate with other areas of the state, which will help bring their goods and services to market.”

Ken King was elected to serve the citizens of District 88, which contains counties in both the South Plains and Panhandle sections of Texas, in November of 2012. He served as member of the Canadian ISD school board for 5 years and President for 3. He also serves as President of
Black Gold Pump and Supply, Inc. in Canadian, Texas.