While the Farm Bill has included a Rural Development Title since the 1970s, many Farm Bill programs across numerous titles help support rural and economic development. This includes rural business creation and expansion; rural infrastructure development, housing as well as utilities like electric, water; rural economic development; broadband access; and more.
What does rural development look like in Indian Country, and why is this title important?
According to the Native Farm Bill Coalition’s Gaining Ground, rural and economic development programs are key to providing investments that allow communities to weather barriers unique to rural American and Indian Country in particular, like access to low-cost housing, electric, running water, wastewater, internet access, and more. Rural development programs also provide essential community infrastructure and can assist Tribal Nations in maintaining basic quality of life services, which can also attract businesses and provide sustainable employment opportunities, benefitting the greater rural community, not just Indian Country.
Find the Native Farm Bill Coalition’s priorities for the next Farm Bill here.
Marker Bills Regarding Rural Development
Senate
This Program plays a critical role in the health in communities in rural Alaska and must be not only reauthorized but expanded to include other critical water and wastewater services to benefit Alaska Native homes in rural Alaska, 20 percent of which remain unserved.
S. 2211- The Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood Act
The bill establishes an Office of Aquaculture within USDA to encourage and promote aquaculture operations. The bill also establishes an Aquaculture Advisory Committee, of which membership will include 2 representatives of Indian Tribes or Tribal Organizations, to advise the Secretary on (1) oversight of programs of the Department to support development of, and to advance, aquaculture best practices using the best available science, in consultation with farmers and industry partners, (2) the history, use and preservation of Indigenous and traditional aquaculture practices and ecological knowledge, and (3) providing technical assistance to aquaculture farmers and businesses, including technical assistance that pertains to shellfish, algae, and land-based aquaculture systems, using the best available science.
The bill establishes a regulatory system for sustainable offshore aquaculture in the United States exclusive economic zone. The bill supports the development of Tribal aquaculture to complement sustainable fisheries and ecosystem-based management.
House
H.R. 4290- Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act
This bill ensures that Tribal producers who rely on acequia systems have access to drought protections. The bill also removes special use permit requirements for routine maintenance and minor improvements of acequias.
The bill establishes a regulatory system for sustainable offshore aquaculture in the United States exclusive economic zone. The bill supports the development of Tribal aquaculture to complement sustainable fisheries and ecosystem-based
H.R. 3955- The Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act
This bill expands upon the Increasing Land, Capital and Market Access Program, created by the 2018 Farm Bill to support underserved producers. The bill would make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, Tribal governments among others to strengthen land, capital, and market access for historically underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest owners and for producers operating in high-poverty areas.
H.R. 3951Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood Act
The bill establishes an Office of Aquaculture within USDA to encourage and promote aquaculture operations. The bill also establishes an Aquaculture Advisory Committee, of which membership will include 2 representatives of Indian Tribes or Tribal Organizations, to advise the Secretary on (1) oversight of programs of the Department to support development of, and to advance, aquaculture best practices using the best available science, in consultation with farmers and industry partners, (2) the history, use and preservation of Indigenous and traditional aquaculture practices and ecological knowledge, and (3) providing technical assistance to aquaculture farmers and businesses, including technical assistance that pertains to shellfish, algae, and land-based aquaculture systems, using the best available science.
H.R. 3595- MORE USDA Grants Act
This bill allows small, rural counties where over 50% of the land is managed by the federal government (to include Tribal land) to better access and secure grant funding. This bill gives Tribal governments support through reduced local match requirements, increased technical assistance, and special consideration when applying for federal assistance