U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne of West Des Moines came to Perry Wednesday in order to unveil her new Rural Prosperity Agenda — a package of nine bipartisan bills that she supports and plans to push her Congressional colleagues to pass in order to ensure Iowans and all rural communities receive the investments they need to prosper.
“For years, rural Iowans have felt left behind by the federal government,” Axne told the crowd of about 25 at La Poste. “It’s time to say enough is enough and to help make sure all Iowans have equal access to federal funds.”
Axne said her Rural Prosperity Agenda supports crucial parts of Iowa’s economy — from funding police departments and first responders who often have to compete with big cities for money to expanding access to capital for rural job creators to investing in big economic drivers for rural areas, such as the renewable fuel industry.
The Rural Prosperity Agenda includes nine bills that Axne helped introduce that aim to make investments in Iowa’s police departments, first responders, job creators, housing programs and biofuel producers:
- The Rural Prosperity Act would streamline federal services for rural America and cut bureaucratic red tape by establishing the Office of Rural Prosperity – a permanent office in the White House tasked with coordinating federal efforts to support and connect America’s rural communities to federal programs and resources.
- The Invest to Protect Act will help bring more federal resources to rural and suburban police departments to help with training, staffing retention, recruitment, and operations.
- The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act would give volunteer firefighters and first responders access to affordable housing programs to help Iowa fire departments recruit and retain more volunteers.
- The Flexibility in Addressing Rural Homelessness Act will allow rural communities more flexibility in how they use homelessness funding to ensure quality lodging is available for Iowans who have been displaced from their homes.
- The Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act will support rural entrepreneurs and communities by ensuring rural small business owners have a seat at the table as federal policymakers consider new rules that govern investment and capital.
- The Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act will help ensure Iowans in rural communities have access to affordable housing by preserving existing housing options for families.
- The Telehealth Extension and Evaluation Act will ensure key telehealth services offered during the COVID-19 pandemic will continue for two years after the public health emergency.
- The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act aims to return fairness to the cattle marketplace dominated by four major meat packers.
- The Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Incentive and Market Expansion Act will authorize $500 million over 5 years for infrastructure grants for fuel retailers.
- The Biodiesel Tax Extension Act of 2021 will extend the $1 per gallon blenders tax credit for biodiesel and renewable diesel through 2025.
- Implementation of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest more than $40 billion in broadband deployment nationally.
Axne’s Rural Prosperity Agenda also includes the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing the Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength (COMPETES) Act of 2022, which will make key investments in small and medium-size domestic manufacturers of critical components in the supply chain and boost rural manufacturing.
Axne was joined at the Perry event by Theresa Greenfield, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development office in Iowa. The congresswoman fielded questions on housing expansion and broadband development from members of the Perry Economic Development Inc. group.
