Sec. 2. Purposes

431 words·~2 min read·/bill/117/s/486/is/section-2

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The purposes of this Act are— to create the scale and capacity that enables rural areas to achieve their preferred future while maximizing their contribution to the well-being of the United States; to recognize the significant contributions of rural areas of the United States to the success of the United States, including the leading role that the rural areas play in addressing the critical threat of climate change and building a resilient United States; to make a national commitment to the rural communities and regions of the United States to ensure that the rural United States benefits from and contributes to the prosperity of the United States; to establish a partnership with rural areas of the United States that provides flexible, long-term, and annual Federal investment for comprehensive, collaborative, and locally driven community and economic development that improves quality of life and economic competitiveness; to strengthen rural population centers through collaboration with neighboring rural areas that ensures economic integration and regional development; to strengthen connections between rural and urban areas of the United States for mutual success and for the benefit of the economy of the United States and the quality of life of the people of the United States; to support asset-based development, maximizing the cost-effectiveness of existing infrastructure; to ensure economic opportunities that create pathways to high-quality, family-sustaining jobs for all individuals in rural areas of the United States, including efforts to address population loss, to promote the use of cooperatives and other forms of public and employee ownership, and to expand and improve access to training, infrastructure, and investment to adapt to technological change, such as automation, for success in the digital economy; to provide for the evolution and expansion of the role of the Department of Agriculture in ensuring that rural communities have a dedicated agency and a new delivery system for Federal assistance for disaster recovery and proactive mitigation and resiliency efforts; to rebuild and modernize infrastructure and expand investment to support local and regional food systems, sustainable agriculture production, and value added agricultural industries; to support infill development, preserve undeveloped land, and remediate brownfields and other contaminated properties for re-use; and to support public health and improve quality of life in rural communities by delivering— universal access to clean air and water; healthy foods available through local and regional food systems; quality, affordable, and accessible health care services in the rural communities, including access to primary and emergency medical services, mental health care, and treatment for substance abuse; affordable and reliable clean energy systems; and quality, affordable, and energy-efficient housing choices in the rural communities.