White House Creates Rural Council

June 10, 2011

(From Bobby G.) Rural policy advocates who have worked for years for governmental recognition that ‘rural is different’ are cheering the announcement yesterday that the White House has created a “Rural Council” to recognize the differences and to recommend ways to improve rural life in areas ranging from jobs and agriculture to education, broadband and regional economic networks. It’s the first-ever such body created by the White House, and my own mentor (and frequent Rural Innovators speaker), Chuck Fluharty of RUPRI, is one of those whose engagement has helped to bring this about.

What will it amount to? Only time will tell, and we’ll track it … but in the mean time, congratulations to Chuck and the legions who have worked for policy recognition in Washington … and here’s the press release:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2011
!
Obama Administration Establishes White House Rural Council to
Strengthen Rural Communities
!
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The White House today announced the establishment
of the first White House Rural Council.! While rural communities face
challenges, they also present economic potential.! To address these
challenges, build on the Administration’s rural economic strategy, and
improve the implementation of that strategy, the President signed an
Executive Order establishing the White House Rural Council.!
!
“Strong rural communities are key to a stronger America,” said President
Barack Obama.! “That’s why I’ve established the White House Rural Council
to make sure we’re working across government to strengthen rural
communities and promote economic growth.”
!
The White House Rural Council will coordinate programs across government
to encourage public-private partnerships to promote further economic
prosperity and quality of life in rural communities nationwide.! Chaired by
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the Council will be responsible for
providing recommendations for investment in rural areas and will coordinate
Federal engagement with a variety of rural stakeholders, including
agricultural organizations, small businesses, and state, local, and tribal
governments.!
!
“Rural America makes significant contributions to the security, prosperity,
and economic strength of our country,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack.! “The Rural Council announced by President Obama shows his
continued focus on promoting economic opportunity, creating jobs, and
enhancing the quality of life for those who live in rural America. !Together
with the rest of the Obama administration, USDA has worked to support
families and businesses in rural communities so that their success will pay
dividends for all Americans.”
!
In the coming months, the White House Rural Council will focus on job
creation and economic development by increasing the flow of capital to rural
areas, promoting innovation, expanding digital and physical networks, and
celebrating opportunity through America’s natural resources. The Council
will begin discussing key factors for growth, including:
!
· Jobs: Improve job training and workforce development in rural
America
· Agriculture: Expand markets for agriculture, including regional food
systems and exports
· Access to Credit: Increase opportunity by expanding access to capital
in rural communities and fostering local investment
· Innovation: Promote the expansion of biofuels production capacity
and community based renewable energy projects
· Networks: Develop high-growth regional economies by capitalizing on
inherent regional strengths
· Health Care: Improve access to quality health care through expansion
of health technology systems
· Education: Increase post-secondary enrollment rates and completion
for rural students
· Broadband: Support the President’s plan to increase broadband
opportunities in rural America
· Infrastructure: Coordinate investment in critical infrastructure
· Ecosystem markets: Expanding opportunities for conservation,
outdoor opportunities! and economic growth on working lands and
public lands
!
Since taking office, President Obama’s Administration has taken significant
steps to improve the lives of rural Americans and has provided broad support
for rural communities.! The Obama Administration has set goals of
modernizing infrastructure by providing broadband access to 10 million
Americans, expanding educational opportunities for students in rural areas,
and providing affordable health care.! In the long term, these unparalleled
rural investments will help ensure that America’s rural communities are
repopulating, self-sustaining, and thriving economically.
!
A copy of the Executive Order is attached.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release June 9, 2011
EXECUTIVE ORDER
- – - – - – -
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WHITE HOUSE RURAL COUNCIL
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of America and
in order to enhance Federal engagement with rural communities,
it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Sixteen percent of the American
population lives in rural counties. Strong, sustainable rural
communities are essential to winning the future and ensuring
American competitiveness in the years ahead. These communities
supply our food, fiber, and energy, safeguard our natural
resources, and are essential in the development of science and
innovation. Though rural communities face numerous challenges,
they also present enormous economic potential. The Federal
Government has an important role to play in order to expand
access to the capital necessary for economic growth, promote
innovation, improve access to health care and education, and
expand outdoor recreational activities on public lands.
To enhance the Federal Government’s efforts to address
the needs of rural America, this order establishes a council to
better coordinate Federal programs and maximize the impact of
Federal investment to promote economic prosperity and quality
of life in our rural communities.
Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established a White House
Rural Council (Council).
Sec. 3. Membership. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture
shall serve as the Chair of the Council, which shall also
include the heads of the following executive branch departments,
agencies, and offices:
(1) the Department of the Treasury;
(2) the Department of Defense;
(3) the Department of Justice;
(4) the Department of the Interior;
(5) the Department of Commerce;
(6) the Department of Labor;
(7) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(8) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
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(9) the Department of Transportation;
(10) the Department of Energy;
(11) the Department of Education;
(12) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(13) the Department of Homeland Security;
(14) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(15) the Federal Communications Commission;
(16) the Office of Management and Budget;
(17) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
(18) the Office of National Drug Control Policy;
(19) the Council of Economic Advisers;
(20) the Domestic Policy Council;
(21) the National Economic Council;
(22) the Small Business Administration;
(23) the Council on Environmental Quality;
(24) the White House Office of Public Engagement and
Intergovernmental Affairs;
(25) the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs; and
such other executive branch departments, agencies,
and offices as the President or the Secretary of
Agriculture may, from time to time, designate.
(b) A member of the Council may designate, to perform the
Council functions of the member, a senior-level official who is
part of the member’s department, agency, or office, and who is a
full-time officer or employee of the Federal Government.
(c) The Department of Agriculture shall provide funding
and administrative support for the Council to the extent
permitted by law and within existing appropriations.
(d) The Council shall coordinate its policy development
through the Domestic Policy Council and the National Economic
Council.
Sec. 4. Mission and Function of the Council. The Council
shall work across executive departments, agencies, and offices
to coordinate development of policy recommendations to promote
economic prosperity and quality of life in rural America, and
shall coordinate my Administration’s engagement with rural
communities. The Council shall:
(a) make recommendations to the President, through the
Director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Director of
the National Economic Council, on streamlining and leveraging
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Federal investments in rural areas, where appropriate, to
increase the impact of Federal dollars and create economic
opportunities to improve the quality of life in rural America;
(b) coordinate and increase the effectiveness of
Federal engagement with rural stakeholders, including
agricultural organizations, small businesses, education and
training institutions, health-care providers, telecommunications
services providers, research and land grant institutions,
law enforcement, State, local, and tribal governments, and
nongovernmental organizations regarding the needs of rural
America;
(c) coordinate Federal efforts directed toward the growth
and development of geographic regions that encompass both urban
and rural areas; and
(d) identify and facilitate rural economic opportunities
associated with energy development, outdoor recreation, and
other conservation related activities.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) The heads of executive
departments and agencies shall assist and provide information
to the Council, consistent with applicable law, as may be
necessary to carry out the functions of the Council. Each
executive department and agency shall bear its own expense
for participating in the Council.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair
or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an executive
department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget relating to budgetary,
administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This order shall be implemented consistent
with applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(d) This order is not intended to, and does not, create
any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at
law or in equity by any party against the United States, its
departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or
agents, or any other person.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 9, 2011.
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