Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) unveiled her new Rural Prosperity Agenda – a package of bipartisan legislation that she supports which she will be pushing Congress to pass to ensure Iowans and all rural communities receive the investments they need to prosper.
“For years, rural Iowans have felt left behind by the federal government. It’s time to say enough is enough and to help make sure all Iowans have equal access to federal funds,” Rep. Axne said. “My Rural Prosperity Agenda helps fund police departments and first responders who often have to compete with big cities for money, expands access to capital for rural job creators and invests in big economic drivers for our rural areas like the renewable fuel industry.”
The Rural Prosperity Agenda includes nine bills Rep. Axne has helped introduce that would make investments in Iowa’s police departments, first responders, job creators, housing programs, and biofuel producers:
- The Rural Prosperity Act 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.
- The Invest to Protect Act will help bring more federal resources to rural and suburban police departments to help with training, staffing retention, recruitment, and operations.
- The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act would give volunteer firefighters and first responders access to affordable housing programs to help Iowa fire departments recruit and retain more volunteers.
- The Flexibility in Addressing Rural Homelessness Act will allow rural communities more flexibility in how they use homelessness funding to ensure quality lodging is available for Iowans who have been displaced from their homes.
- The Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act will support rural entrepreneurs and communities by ensuring rural small business owners have a seat at the table as federal policymakers consider new rules that govern investment and capital.
- The Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act will help ensure Iowans in rural communities have access to affordable housing by preserving existing housing options for families.
- The Telehealth Extension and Evaluation Act will ensure key telehealth services offered during the COVID-19 pandemic will continue for two years after the public health emergency.
- The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act aims to return fairness to the cattle marketplace dominated by four major meat packers.
- The Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Incentive and Market Expansion Act will authorize $500 million over 5 years for infrastructure grants for fuel retailers.
- The Biodiesel Tax Extension Act of 2021 will extend the $1 per gallon blenders tax credit for biodiesel and renewable diesel through 2025.
- Implementation of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest more than $40 billion in broadband deployment nationally.
Rep. Axne is a founding member of the Rural Reinvestment Task Force and a member of the Rural Broadband Task Force, where she is working to close the digital divide and make sure everyone has access to affordable internet.
Original source can be found here.
