Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), both members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, are seeking to cut red tape and streamline the sprawling federal resources available to rural communities. Their new bipartisan legislation, which costs no new money, puts a rural-focused office inside the White House — an Office of Rural Prosperity — tasked with coordinating the federal government’s hundreds of programs supporting rural communities.
“I frequently hear from Iowans in rural communities who are having trouble navigating federal bureaucracy, making it more difficult to receive the assistance they need. While my office always stands ready to assist however we can, the Rural Prosperity Act will help Iowans identify and utilize relevant programs to overcome any challenges they’re facing,” Grassley said.
“As someone who lives and grew up in a rural community in Southwest Iowa, I know firsthand the unique challenges and opportunities of our small towns, families, and local businesses,” said Ernst. “Too often Washington forgets the needs of our rural communities, which is why I’m pleased to put forward this bipartisan plan to cut red tape for rural America and to make sure we always have a voice and a seat at the decision-making table in our nation’s capital.”
Currently, there are more than 400 federal programs dedicated to helping rural communities. 13 different federal agencies have jurisdiction over these various programs, which includes over 50 offices and sub-agencies. The Rural Prosperity Act would establish the Office of Rural Prosperity to coordinate these rural economic development programs.
The bill also requires the office to produce an annual comprehensive strategy for rural economic development — a Rural Prosperity Action Plan — similar to what the Trump administration produced in 2018. This would include several specific issues Grassley and Ernst have called for, such as:
- Relying on the best available science when reviewing or approving crop protection tools;
- Promoting the preservation of family farms passing from one generation to the next, including changes to the estate tax;
- Encouraging the production, export and use of domestically produced agricultural products; and
- Furthering America’s energy security by promoting renewable energy and biofuel.
The bill is also being led by Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
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