Shippensburg woman lobbies Sen. Toomey on rural issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lizzie Bailey, Pennsylvania State Grange Communications and Membership Director and member of Cumberland Valley Grange, met today with representatives from Sen. Pat Toomey’s office to discuss several issues central to rural Pennsylvanians.

Bailey, of Shippensburg, who is a participant in the National Grange’s Legislative Fly-In, said the meeting, in which she discussed the 2013 Farm Bill, rural health care and broadband, and postal reform, was successful.

Specifically, Bailey said the need for elected officials to support the expansion of rural broadband was most important to her.

“Whether I’m Skyping with farmers in Australia to learn best practices or emailing my local network of growers in my community, the internet is an important communication tool. Broadband opens up opportunities for education, work and endless networking for people in rural areas,” Bailey said.