Today, the Obama Administration established the first White House Rural Council and named access to affordable health care among the council’s top priorities.
NRHA is pleased the White House is focused on improving the lives of the 62 million Americans who call rural home.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will chair the new advisory team working toward bettering the economic outlook and quality of life for rural residents.
The council will make recommendations for investment in rural areas and will coordinate federal engagement with a variety of rural stakeholders, including organizations, small businesses and state, local and tribal governments.
The White House has asked the council to begin its work by focusing on these 10 factors for growth, many of which impact rural health:
• Health care: Improve access to quality health care through expansion of health technology systems
• 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
• 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
NRHA applauds creation of White House Rural Council, pleased rural health is priority
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
This is amazing and I am glad that the WH has made rural health a priority. It’s about time…
Thanks for your comment, Liz.
Here’s a link to the list of Rural Council members:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/06/09/executive-order-establishment-white-house-rural-council
Have they established a program or working group with any contacts or a web site of their own? When might this be up and running?
Another federal department that will be totally useless. Obama is a disaster.
Institutions of Higher Learning will be highly involved in the education and training of future healthcare providers for rural areas. Many of us already have programs based in rural areas. What would be the first step for IHLs under this new Council?
Are Council members reading this blog?
This is scary. Just more government intrusion into our lives. It is all a part of the United Nations “Agenda 21″ and the “Hoax of Sustainable Development”
Wake up America to all these fuzzy terms that this regime uses in guise of caring about the human race. They are more concerned with population control and the environment.