Obama to create new council focused on rural America
President Barack Obama is expected to create a new advisory council Thursday that will focus on quality of life and economic issues facing rural America. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, former Iowa governor, will likely lead the effort. An unnamed White House official told the Associated Press that Obama will sign an executive order to establish the Rural Council, and that the advisory group will give recommendations to the administration on a wide variety of interests and issues facing the millions of Americans who live in rural areas, beginning with economic development and job creation
Jul 31, 202042K Shares636.9K Views
President Barack Obama is expected to create a new advisory council Thursday that will focus on quality of life and economic issues facing rural America. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, former Iowa governor, will likely lead the effort.
An unnamed White House official told the Associated Pressthat Obama will sign an executive order to establish the Rural Council, and that the advisory group will give recommendations to the administration on a wide variety of interests and issues facing the millions of Americans who live in rural areas, beginning with economic development and job creation.
The Rural Council will also offer advice on agriculture, health care, education, infrastructure, conservation and technology specific to rural American life.
Although land values have skyrocketed and agriculture as a economic sector has mostly weathered the latest national recession well when compared with other industries, the successes haven’t necessarily translated to good economic forecastsfor rural towns and regions. In fact, a July 2010 study noted that when state governments tighten their belts, it is often rural areas that bear the most burden.