Miller-Meeks signs on to Rural Prosperity Act

Posted

Bill would establish White House office to coordinate rural efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Last week Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) signed on as a cosponsor of H.R. 7019, the Rural Prosperity Act. This bipartisan bill, introduced by Reps. Angie Craig (MN-02) and Dan Newhouse (WA-04), would streamline federal services for rural America and cut bureaucratic red tape by establishing the Office of Rural Prosperity – a permanent office in the White House tasked with coordinating federal efforts to support and connect America’s rural communities to federal programs and resources.

This legislation is the House companion to S.  3803, which was introduced by Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ).

“Rural America is the backbone of our country. Unfortunately, it is often left behind and forgotten. The act would work to make sure that does not happen,” said Miller-Meeks. “We have seen a lot of success with Iowa’s Center for Rural Revitalization and federal agencies like the Department of Agriculture’s Office of Rural Development. I hope we can spread the importance of rural development across the country and close the gap between urban and rural.”

To read the full text of this legislation, click HERE.

Currently, there are more than 400 federal programs dedicated to helping rural communities, spread across thirteen departments and over 50 offices and sub-agencies, which can create siloed, duplicative, and ineffective bureaucracy.

Numerous states have established Offices of Rural Prosperity, or similarly titled offices, with the goal of providing resources to and serving as an advocate for rural communities within state government. The structure and model of the act reflects elements of the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity and the Wisconsin Blue Ribbon Commission on Rural Prosperity.

The bipartisan act would ensure better coordination across federal agencies by:

  • Establishing the Office of Rural Prosperity within the White House to coordinate rural economic development programs across government. The office would be led by a Chief Rural Advisor, who will be appointed by the President and be responsible for coordinating all federal rural development efforts.
  • Forming a Rural Prosperity Council consists of members of all of the heads of executive branch departments, agencies, and offices that have programs that serve rural areas. The Council would serve as a forum to resolve interagency disputes and coordinate a whole-of-government effort to address the needs of rural communities across the country.
  • Developing a comprehensive strategy for rural economic development across the Executive Branch.
  • Engaging with stakeholders, including convening public hearings to identify common challenges faced by rural areas.
  • Making recommendations on how to coordinate, streamline, and leverage existing Federal investments to address challenges faced by rural areas.
  • Developing a common set of metrics to ensure that all rural development programs are meeting a common set of evidence-backed standards.
Congress, House of Representatives, legislation, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, news, Office of Rural Prosperity, Pen City Current, Senate File, White House

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here