By Garrett Downs, Agri-Pulse – April 6, 2022
Lawmakers are proposing creation of an Office of Rural Prosperity in the White House, which would be tasked with coordinating rural policy across the government.
A new bill known as the Rural Prosperity Act is likely to be the first of many rural development proposals to be considered for the 2023 farm bill. It would establish the new office, led by a presidentially appointed “chief rural adviser.”
The office’s jobs would include convening public hearings to gain rural stakeholder feedback, creating a White House Rural Council to resolve interagency disputes, developing a comprehensive White House strategy for rural economic development and developing a set of metrics to ensure rural programs are meeting “evidence-backed standards.”
Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., who introduced the bill with GOP Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington, told Agri-Pulse the new office would help centralize federal programs for rural development to prevent overlap in four areas: Healthcare, broadband, education and family farms.
“To me, the fact that there’s no executive branch department that has responsibility for rural America is a big gap in our focus at the White House,” Craig said. “The EPA and the USDA, all kinds of overlap of responsibility, it often leads to a fragmented approach toward rural communities that I think is holding economic development back in those communities.”
Craig said she and the bill’s sponsors are “serious about advancing the legislation itself, independently,” but acknowledged it may find a vehicle in the 2023 farm bill.
“If we can’t get it across the finish line here as an independent piece of legislation, we will consider introducing it in the next farm bill,” Craig said.
GOP Rep. Adrian Smith of Nebraska, another co-sponsor, said the measure is a “natural fit” for the farm bill.
“Too often rural communities miss out on opportunities they could benefit from because of the maze of bureaucracy it takes to tap into them,” Smith told Agri-Pulse. “There’s a real need for a voice in the White House advocating for rural communities. While it is still very early in the process, I think this bill could be a natural fit for the farm bill.”
A companion measure has been introduced in the Senate by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.
In a statement to Agri-Pulse, Gillibrand expressed optimism the legislation would make it into the farm bill.