The following is a statement from Shawn Sebastian, Director of Organizing at RuralOrganizing:
The Harris/Walz campaign’s Plan for Rural Communities shows us what happens when you actually listen to rural people. The plan demonstrates both a deep understanding of and a solid commitment to rural Americans. At Rural Organizing, we have talked for years about rural communities needing lower prices, higher wages, and a better quality of life, and we wholeheartedly welcome this strategy from the Harris/Walz campaign to address those very issues.
Harris and Walz are focusing on the issues that we deal with every day: expanding access to health care, ensuring access to care for our families — both children and the elderly — and strengthening rural economies, especially by recognizing the importance of small businesses, where a higher percentage of rural people are employed.
Trump and Vance’s dark vision for the future would only make things worse for rural Americans. Trump spent his first term repeatedly trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would shut down 500 rural hospitals, and even now they have no actual plans beyond division and fear to address the very real and complex crises rural people face with respect to childcare, eldercare, schools, and more.
Harris and Walz are showing rural voters that their concerns have been heard. They are also showing how life can improve when elected officials deal with real issues instead of just trying to divide us. This really is the plan we’ve been waiting for and we look forward to making it a reality.
The mission of RuralOrganizing.org is to rebuild a rural America that is empowered, thriving, and equitable. Follow us on Twitter @RuralOrganizing.
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