National Association of Counties

Rural Action Caucus

Rural Impact County Challenge
Recognizing the critical role local officials play in supporting innovation and change, NACo and the White House Rural Council have come together on a national initiative to help advance counties’ efforts to reduce the number of rural children and families living in poverty

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NACo's Rural Action Caucus (RAC) is a key component of NACo.  RAC is the voice for America's rural counties before Congress and the Administration.  Nearly two-thirds of the nation's 3,069 counties are designated as rural, with a combined population of 60 million.

County elected officials from these rural areas are dedicated to solving many critical issues impacting rural life and development. These include infrastructure development, broadband deployment, development of new rural clinics and hospitals, road and bridge construction and maintenance, business development opportunities and many more county responsibilities.

Since 1997, NACo's Rural Action Caucus has addressed critical federal, state and local issues

Policy Briefs

Maintain Funding for USDA Rural Development Programs

ACTION NEEDED:

Urge your members of Congress to support U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development programs throughout the FY 2020 appropriations process by meeting or exceeding FY 2019 funding levels. USDA Rural Development programs provide critical investments to key rural county priorities.

BACKGROUND:

USDA programs are funded through the annual Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. USDA Rural Development operates a broad range of grant and loan programs critical to rural counties. These programs include grant funding and loan financing for water/wastewater infrastructure, community facilities, broadband, electric, telephone, housing, renewable energy and business development. 

In February 2019 Congress passed and the president signed an omnibus spending package that included over $23 billion in total discretionary funding authority for USDA, including over $3 billion for USDA’s Rural Development Programs, an increase of $2.1 billion over FY 2018 funding levels. Additionally, the omnibus includes $550 million in appropriated funding for a rural broadband pilot program, administered by the USDA, to target areas that currently lack broadband access.

Counties encourage Congress to maintain funding levels at or above FY 2019 levels as it considers appropriations for FY 2020.

Below is a breakdown of FY 2019 funding levels:

Under the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS):

PDF icon USDA Rural Development Policy Brief.pdf

Support Key County Priorities as Congress Implements the 2018 Farm Bill

ACTION NEEDED:

Urge your members of Congress to support county priorities throughout the implementation of the 2018 farm bill. Programs throughout the farm bill help counties make critical investments in infrastructure, economic development, nutrition and conservation. Preserving these programs is vital to the strength of our local and national economy.

The legislation, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), will expire at the end of FY 2023. NACo testified before the U.S. House Agriculture Committee during the bill’s development, securing authorization of several programs of interest to counties, and continues to work to preserve county priorities.

BACKGROUND:

On December 20, 2018, President Trump signed into law a five-year reauthorization of the farm bill. The president’s signature comes after a bipartisan group of legislators worked for months to resolve disagreements between the two farm bills passed by the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate. The final five-year, $867 billion reauthorization will help support county economies and provide critical investments to rural and underserved communities.

Throughout the farm bill process, county leaders helped draft bill text and amendments to preserve and promote key county priorities. Specifically, the final package creates a new Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant program, reinstates the Undersecretary for Rural Development and codifies the interagency Council on Rural Community Innovation and Economic Development.

PDF icon Farm Bill Policy Brief.pdf
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Latest Resources

  • 2020 NACo Policy Priorities

    Reports & Toolkits | Jan. 13, 2020

    NACo works to preserve local decision making, protect counties from unfunded mandates and preemption and strengthen the federal-state-local partnership.

  • Counties Applaud Farm Bill Passage

    Press Release | Dec. 13, 2018

    Key county victories achieved in rural development, nutrition, conservation

  • NACo Analysis of U.S. House and Senate versions of 2018 Farm Bill

    Document | Sep. 20, 2018

    As the governing authority over the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the farm bill is critical for counties who are responsible for delivering and administering vital services to many of our nation’s vulnerable families.

More resources

Get involved with RAC.  Individual county officials or staff from NACo member counties are eligible to join. RAC members receive periodic updates on key issues affecting rural counties. Learn more:

Advocacy

RAC Steering Committee

Chair

Robert Post
Commissioner
Banner County, Nebraska

 

Vice Chair

Jason Brinkley
County Judge
Cooke County, Texas

 

Melissa Cribbins
Commissioner
Coos County, Oregon

 

Kenneth Dahlstedt
Commissioner
Skagit County, Washington

 

Lena Fowler
Supervisor
Coconino County, Arizona

 

Vance Stuehrenberg
Commissioner
Blue Earth County, Minnesota

 

Robert Wilson
County Administrator
Cass County, North Dakota

 

Contact

  • Arthur Scott
    Associate Legislative Director – Political Outreach Manager  
    (202) 942-4230