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

Public Lands

Blog

House Appropriations Committee Advances Interior-EPA Spending Bill

House Appropriations panel advances Interior-EPA spending bill, including several major wins for counties.
Agriculture

Blog

Senate agriculture leaders ask White House to quickly nominate new USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development

On May 3, U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) sent a letter to the president thanking him for signing the 2018 farm bill and urging him to act quickly on nominating a candidate for Under Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Public Lands

Blog

U.S. Senate Confirms David Bernhardt as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior

On April 11, the U.S. Senate voted 56-41 to confirm David Bernhardt as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). Prior to his confirmation, Sec. Bernhardt served as Deputy Secretary of the Interior under Secretary Ryan Zinke, becoming Acting Secretary in January 2019 after Sec. Zinke resigned.
Public Lands

Blog

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes delisting all gray wolves under Endangered Species Act

On March 14, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed delisting all gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), stating that the species has recovered sufficiently and is stable enough to no longer require ESA protections.
Public Lands

Blog

House and Senate PILT champions circulate letters urging full funding in FY 2020

As the FY 2020 appropriations process begins, members of Congress in both the U.S. House and Senate have the opportunity over the coming weeks to submit written appropriations requests in support of all federal programs.

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Policy Briefs

Agriculture

Policy Brief

Maintain Funding for USDA Rural Development Programs

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.
Agriculture

Policy Brief

Support Key County Priorities as Congress Implements the 2018 Farm Bill

Urge your members of congress to support county priorities throughout the development of the next farm bill. Programs throughout the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) help counties make critical investments in infrastructure, workforce and economic development, nutrition and conservation for some of our nation’s most underserved communities. Preserving these programs is vital to the strength and stability of our local and national economy.

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Latest Resources

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.
NACo Letter to 2018 Farm Bill Conferees

Advocacy | Jul. 25, 2018

More resources

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

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Rural Action Caucus

House Appropriations Committee Advances Interior-EPA Spending Bill

Senate agriculture leaders ask White House to quickly nominate new USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development

U.S. Senate Confirms David Bernhardt as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes delisting all gray wolves under Endangered Species Act

House and Senate PILT champions circulate letters urging full funding in FY 2020

Policy Briefs

Maintain Funding for USDA Rural Development Programs

Support Key County Priorities as Congress Implements the 2018 Farm Bill

Latest Resources

Counties Applaud Farm Bill Passage

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

NACo Letter to 2018 Farm Bill Conferees

Advocacy

RAC Steering Committee

Chair

Vice Chair

Contact

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