Press Releases

RuralOrganizing.org strongly supports passage of Dream and Promise Act and Farm Workforce Modernization Act

Immigrants are valued members of our small towns and rural communities. They are our friends, our family, and our neighbors. That’s why we have their backs regardless of their status. We strongly support the passage of both the Dream and Promise Act, H.R. 8, and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The bills, which provide a path to legal status and eventual citizenship to Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders, and farm workers, will have a positive impact on rural communities around the country. We strongly encourage all House members, particularly those with rural constituents, to support both bills. [...]

Democrats Vote To Pass The Most Impactful Rural Legislation In Over A Generation

oday, Democrats in the House of Representatives joined their Senate colleagues by voting for the biggest boost for small towns and rural communities that we’ve seen in over a generation. President Biden’s American Rescue Plan provides $5 billion farmers of color, who have lost 90 percent of their land over the past century because of systemic discrimination and a cycle of debt; distrubutes $4 billion to support the food supply chain; allocates $750 million to support the Indian Housing Block Grant program and the Indian Community Development Block Grant program; and provides $140 million to support households residing in USDA-subsidized rural properties or who participate in USDA 502 and 504 Direct mortgage programs. [...]

Rural America Needs Help. Democrats Need to Keep their Promises. Deliver the Aid

The following is a statement from Matt Hildreth, Executive Director of RuralOrganzing.org:

Like the rest of the country, rural America is hurting. The pandemic has had an outsize impact on rural towns and counties. 

‘Damn! What a week!’ Matt Hildreth responds to President Joe Biden’s first full week in office

Damn! What a week. We’ve made more progress in Rural America during President Joe Biden’s first week in office than any other seven day period in recent memory. With the appointment of national rural development experts in key positions within the administration, President Biden is assembling the team to build back better in rural America, and with swift executive action, he is beginning to correct the course climate change, the failing rural economy, immigration, and of course, the pandemic. [...]

Matt Hildreth on the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris

Today marks a new beginning for the nation. At RuralOrganizing.org, we look forward to working with the new administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to improve the lives of all Americans, particularly those in rural areas who were left behind by Donald Trump. We strongly believe that the best way President Biden can ensure small town America benefits from federal programs for years to come is by opening  a national  office of Rural Prosperity like Governor Kelly did in Kansas and Governor Evers did in Wisconsin. [...]