Policy Development
Rural Coalition public policy approaches are grounded in grassroots, community-driven solutions.
Our Policy team works hard to craft and strategically support federal legislation and political movements that protect & serve workers, socially-disadvantaged communities, and Mother Earth.
We are currently working legislation for the 2023 Farm Bill.
Our 2023 Farm Bill platform is rooted in:
April 10, 2024
Letter Re: Equity Conservation Cooperative Agreements in FY25 Appropriations. Read the letter here.
December 15, 2023
February 22, 2024
PRESS RELEASE: USDA Releases Landmark Equity Commission Report. Read our press release here
September 26, 2023
USDA Expands Access to School Breakfast and Lunch for More Students - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it is giving an estimated 3,000 more school districts in high-need areas the option to serve breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost, by expanding the availability of the Community Eligibility Provision, commonly known as CEP. Read more here.
September 12, 2023
Biden taps Basil Gooden to lead USDA's Rural Development arm - If confirmed by the Senate, Gooden will fill the position formerly held by Xochitl Torres Small, whom Biden recently elevated to deputy secretary of Agriculture. Gooden, who became Virginia's first Black agriculture secretary in 2016, is currently director of state operations for rural development at USDA. Learn more here.
Policy Updates
December 15, 2023
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) and Andrew Garbarino (NY-02) announce the introduction of the Natural Climate Solutions Research and Extension Act. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would advance sustainable agriculture practices across the United States by making natural climate solutions a high research and extension priority at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), unlocking federal funding for farmers to protect the environment via land management practices that increase carbon storage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “As our climate continues to change, it is critical that we understand exactly what tools producers have available to best manage and care for the land and resources that sustain us,” said Lorette Picciano, Executive Director of the Rural Coalition. “We thank Senator Markey and his colleagues for expanding the scope of research to include a more diverse range of approaches to resilience as provided in the Natural Climate Solutions Research and Extension Act.” Learn more here.
December 6, 2023
Rural Coalition joins more than 100 Organizations Call on Congress to Craft a Food and Farm Bill that Meets Urgent Challenges Facing Food and Farm System. The letter, sent to House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership today, identifies 34 “marker bills” that, if included in the next food and farm bill, would help transform the U.S. food and agriculture system into one that is more sustainable, resilient and equitable, and that farmers, workers, and communities need and deserve. Learn more here. Additionally, In one of the largest collaborative grantmaking efforts ever in the food and farming sector, 15 organizations awarded $2.235 million in grants to support 28 grassroots groups that are on the front lines of working with marginalized farmers and communities. Learn more here.
September 6, 2023
Adams, Kildee, Scott Introduce House Bill Eliminating Tax Liability for Inflation Reduction Act Assistance to Farmers- Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) and U.S. Representatives Dan Kildee (MI-08) and Bobby Scott (VA-03) introduced the Family Farmer and Rancher Tax Fairness Act of 2023, legislation that would remove the tax liability for distressed farmers on the assistance provided under Sections 22006 and 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Currently, farm loan borrowers who are already at financial risk are facing tax liability on the IRA assistance. Read more here.
November 29, 2023
Senator Markey & Congresswoman Adams have announced legislation to harness federal purchasing power to build a just and resilient food system. The legislation would require USDA to use its purchasing authority on sustainable and healthy food, and would create new pilot program to support equitable agriculture. Learn more here.
September 8, 2023
Readout of White House and Department of Agriculture Roundtable on Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry with Agriculture, Conservation, and Environmental Organizations - The White House and the Department of Agriculture convened a roundtable with leaders from Rural Coalition and 14 other agriculture, conservation, and environmental organizations to discuss President Biden’s historic investments in climate-smart agriculture and forestry through the Inflation Reduction Act and Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. Learn more about the roundtable here.
