November 19, 2025

New Dems Unveil Rural Revitalization Agenda to Grow Rural Economies, Lower Costs, and Improve Health Care

Today, the New Democrat Coalition Rural Revitalization Working Group, led by Working Group Chair Kim Schrier (WA-08), Farm Bill Task Force Chair Jim Costa (CA-21), Rural Broadband Task Force Chair April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Rural Economy Task Force Chair Josh Riley (NY-19), released its Rural Revitalization Agenda, which offers a path forward for Congress to support the long-term growth and prosperity of communities that are often overlooked and underappreciated.

Through the Rural Revitalization Agenda, New Dems will work to rebuild and reinvest in rural areas by growing local and farm economies, expanding access to affordable housing and high-quality healthcare, and breaking down barriers to success, like lack of high-speed internet, job training, and harmful trade policies.

“When our rural communities thrive, our nation thrives," said Working Group Chair Kim Schrier. "The agenda that we are releasing today will support rural Americans in Washington state and across the country by fueling economic prosperity and addressing the long-standing disparities that are holding these communities back from their full potential. In Congress, I will keep fighting alongside my New Democrat Coalition colleagues to uplift and strengthen rural communities throughout the country."

“Rural communities, like those I represent in the San Joaquin Valley, are important parts of our nation’s economy,” said Congressman Jim Costa. “Yet too often, these communities are overlooked. It’s time we invest in rural America. Which is why I’m proud to be a part of this agenda that advances two of my bills, the MORE Nurses Act and the Rural Homeownership Continuity Act. This agenda will help expand affordable housing, strengthen our rural health care workforce, and build lasting economic growth.”

"I'm so proud to support the New Democrats Coalition's Rural Revitalization Agenda. Our rural communities are big cornerstones of our local and national economies through energy, tourism, farming, and tech innovation. Sadly, due to this Administration's reckless cuts to our food security, cuts to federal agencies, and an assault on health care and rural hospitals, Rural America is in need of help. These hard-working families do not need life to be harder or less affordable," said Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (MD-06). "This agenda works to strengthen our farm economies, expand access to quality health care, and make key investments in workforce training and economic development. I am ready to get to work on this Agenda and help our rural communities thrive."

The Agenda is centered around four fundamental goals: empowering communities to achieve long-term economic prosperity; supporting the care economy and improving rural healthcare; investing in the farm economy; and closing the digital gap by expanding access to broadband.

The document also lays out the next steps for New Dems to implement this agenda, including working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to develop and pass a bipartisan Farm Bill, bolstering programs targeting rural areas, and addressing disparities to help unlock the full potential of rural regions.

You can read the full New Dem Rural Revitalization Agenda here, and below:

Introduction

New Dems know that supporting our rural communities helps lower costs for all American families, strengthens our supply chains, and opens new markets for innovation and clean energy. Rural communities are at the heart of our economy, our food systems, and our national identity. They’ve been overlooked by outdated policies, harmful trade decisions, and inconsistent federal support. Yet, despite these challenges, rural communities continue to lead with resilience and resolve.

It's time for federal policy to reflect that same spirit. The New Democrat Coalition is committed to a new rural agenda — one that builds lasting economic growth and opportunity, expands access to housing and infrastructure, and ensures rural communities are full and equal partners in America’s future prosperity. Central to this agenda is the recognition that rural communities are vital stewards of our natural resources. Producers who adopt sustainable practices preserve soil, protect water, and keep their land productive for generations. Next-generation specialty crops and renewable fuels complement these efforts by creating new markets, advancing economic opportunity, and helping rural communities thrive in a changing economy.

Going forward, we must remove barriers hindering rural America. Embracing fair trade supports American workers and producers, while modern solutions like affordable broadband, housing, healthcare, and workforce development connect local talent to 21st-century jobs. As we shape the future, rural America must be at the center, ensuring that these communities thrive for generations to come.

New Dem Principles

  1. Empower rural communities for long term prosperity

    1. Align federal policies to keep land affordable and in production.

    2. Promote affordable housing and economic opportunities that will keep families together in rural communities.

    3. Expand workforce development and training in rural communities to prepare workers for an evolving job market.

    4. Honor our relationships with Tribal Nations by positioning the federal government to be a partner in development.

    5. Strengthen technical assistance capacity for small and rural communities to navigate federal programs and fully access available resources.

  2. Support the care economy and fight for rural healthcare

    1. Combat rural hunger through federal nutrition programs.

    2. Address rural childcare needs and ensure it remains affordable, accessible, and high-quality.

    3. Stabilize rural hospitals and undo disastrous cuts to federal healthcare programs like Medicaid.

    4. Invest in the rural workforce to connect local talent to high-paying, impactful jobs.

  3. Invest in the farm economy so the whole nation can thrive

    1. Pass bipartisan legislation that authorizes and invests in the Farm Bill programs left behind in the Republican reconciliation process and reinvests in national anti-hunger programs.

    2. Support new economic opportunities in rural areas such as agritourism, new and specialty crops, and by streamlining regulations to help small and mid-sized producers thrive.

    3. Create a strong federal support system for farmers from the time they start farming to when disaster strikes, ensuring a durable agriculture economy for all communities.

  4. Close the digital gap by supporting programs that connect all of America to the internet

    1. Strive to ensure every American has affordable and reliable high-speed internet.

    2. Connect areas that do not have broadband internet, or need upgrades to boost internet speed.

    3. Reform programs to maximize efficiency and lower barriers to internet access.

Policy Priorities

Empower rural communities for long term prosperity

New Dems aim to empower rural communities by expanding access to affordable land, supporting small and beginning farmers, and addressing rising costs like healthcare, food, childcare, and housing. This involves reforming U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) lending, curbing land speculation, establishing a federal land-link program for new producers, strengthening consultation with Tribal Nations, and increasing federal rural development funding. We also support updating the federal workforce system and strengthening training pathways to ensure rural communities thrive in the modern economy.

  • Expand access to affordable land by revising USDA lending and subsidy programs with higher credit limits, more flexibility on guarantees, and faster approval times to favor small and mid-size producers over large corporate owners.

  • Curtail or penalize land speculation by big investors and foreign nations to lower the cost of land for American purchasers.

  • Keep land in production and support beginning and disadvantaged farmers by piloting a federal land-link program to connect retiring or transitioning farmers with beginning farmers or neighboring farmers seeking land.

  • Support business development in rural areas by providing resources for rural development programs at the USDA.

  • Promote fair trade opportunities for agriculture and industry to help build and bolster new markets for rural economies and invest in American workers.

  • Keep rural communities together and make sure families don’t have to leave home to find a home by increasing funding for rural housing through programs like the Section 504 Home Repair Program, establishing new federal resources to promote affordable housing like shared equity homeownership models, and assisting low- and moderate- income households in rural areas through H.R. 5728, the Rural Homeownership Continuity Act.

  • Modernize the rural workforce and invest in rural jobs by reauthorizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to expand workforce training, apprenticeships, and adult education in rural and Tribal communities. This involves partnering with employers and educators to build local talent pipelines, create quality jobs in emerging and traditional industries, and expand place-based supports and sector-based partnerships to connect rural workers to growing industries and good-paying jobs close to home.

  • Honor our relationships with Tribal Nations by formalizing additional consultation mechanisms in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, improve data reporting on federal funding to Tribes, and developing interagency collaboration mechanisms to lower administrative burdens on Tribes.

  • Expand technical assistance so rural communities and Tribal Nations can better access federal investments and rebuild critical rural infrastructure.

Support the care economy and fight for rural healthcare

Federal investments should be combating rural hunger through federal nutrition programs, addressing childcare needs via USDA-prioritized projects, modernizing the rural workforce with expanded training and job creation, and stabilizing rural hospitals and maternity care by reversing cuts and supporting healthcare infrastructure and staff. We must also strengthen the rural health workforce and maintain virtual care through expanded placements, EMS investment, and extended telehealth flexibilities.

  • Fight rural hunger by supporting federal nutrition programs, including by undoing harmful cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

  • Address rural childcare needs by directing the USDA to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities.

  • Stabilize rural hospitals and maternity care by undoing disastrous cuts to Medicaid, pausing scheduled Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital cuts, sustaining rural Medicare add-on payments (including the Low-Volume Hospital adjustment and the Medicare-Dependent Hospital program), targeting support to Rural Emergency Hospitals and obstetrics units to prevent service losses and closures, and supporting the nursing workforce in line with H.R. 3333, the MORE Nurses Act.

  • Strengthen the rural health workforce and maintain virtual care options by expanding National Health Service Corps and Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education placements in shortage areas, investing in rural Emergency Medical Services recruitment and training, and extending key Medicare telehealth flexibilities for quality primary care and behavioral health.

Invest in the farm economy so the whole nation can thrive

Congress needs to strengthen the farm economy, provide stability to our farmers, and fight hunger. We can do this by providing new opportunities in farm country like agritourism and cutting red tape, expanding job creation through initiatives like the RECOMPETE program, and investing in buying local foods.

  • Pass bipartisan legislation that authorizes and invests in the Farm Bill programs left behind in the Republican reconciliation process and reinvests in national anti-hunger programs.

  • Address rural food insecurity by investing in the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.

  • Support agritourism, outdoor recreation, and local businesses by bolstering the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in line with H.R. 3470, the AGRITOURISM Act.

  • Cut red tape for ranchers by exempting routine activities like fence repair or water improvement from bureaucratic restrictions.

  • Meet the needs of rural communities by providing flexible funding to create jobs and economic opportunities through the RECOMPETE Program.

  • Improve forestry management by allowing Tribes and counties to retain forestry revenues and use those funds to conduct restoration projects on private forestry lands.

  • Encourage responsible agriculture practices by investing in USDA’s conservation programs that promote the use of cover crops to improve soil health, reduce erosion, enhance water quality, and increase long-term farm resiliency.

  • Expand biofuel and clean fuel markets to increase farm income, reduce carbon emissions, strengthen domestic energy security, and grow new rural manufacturing capacity.

Close the digital gap by supporting programs that connect all of America to the internet

We can ensure every American has access to high-speed internet and the opportunities it provides. By streamlining and consolidating programs, providing money for rural households to get connected to the internet, and reducing the burden on local governments to access funds, Congress can close the digital gap.

  • Bridge the digital divide and promote opportunity by providing monthly subsidies for broadband service and one-time discounts for internet-enabled devices, similar to how the Affordable Connectivity Program operated.

  • Consolidate federal broadband programs and standardize definitions, eligibility criteria, and maps to reduce inefficiencies and give providers clarity on where their services are needed and to give potential program beneficiaries transparency on what resources they can get.

  • Provide a common application for federal broadband programs and enable better data sharing between agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of the Treasury, Department of Commerce, and Federal Communications Commission, to simplify the application process for providers in rural communities and to minimize duplicative subsidized networks.

  • Enhance stability in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program by issuing guidance on how funds can be used for non-deployment purposes such as cybersecurity, outreach, and subscription subsidies. Current confusion around eligibility undermines the program and heightens the risk of funds being misused.

  • Reauthorize broadband programs such as the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program in line with H.R. 5037, the Middle Mile for Rural America Act, which would expand broadband access into rural areas.

Next Steps

The New Democrat Coalition looks forward to engaging in discussions with our colleagues in the Democratic Caucus and across the aisle to develop a bipartisan Farm Bill, bolster programs targeting rural areas, and address disparities to unlock the full potential of rural regions as vital contributors to the nation’s prosperity.

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