Good afternoon,
While 2023 was <a href="[link removed]">one of the least productive years on record</a> for Congress, the same is thankfully not true for OCP. As we gear up for 2024 – a presidential election, fiscal year 2024 appropriations, and a Farm Bill on the docket already – we’re looking back on some of our greatest events, campaigns, and projects uplifting rural America’s priorities.
RURAL PROGRESS SUMMIT
In June, OCP hosted our second <a href="[link removed]">Rural Progress Summit</a>! The three-day virtual event brought together rural stakeholders, issue experts, and leading policy makers to discuss rural America’s political and economic importance. OCP founder and former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp was joined by fellow board members former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, North Carolina Rep. Ashton Clemmons, and Iowa Rep. J.D. Scholten for discussions with White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and many more.
The Summit also featured keynote addresses from Eternal Polk, director and executive producer of <a href="[link removed]">Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land</a>, and Audra Mulkern, founder of <a href="[link removed]">The Female Farmer Project</a> and director of upcoming film <a href="[link removed]">Women’s Work: The Story of America’s Female Farmers</a>. The Rural Progress Summit examined rural America’s affordable housing crisis, the role of rural media, rural politics heading into the 2024 elections, the next Farm Bill, paid family leave, health care access, and more. <a href="[link removed]">Watch here</a>.
FARM BILL PRIORITIES
Capitol Hill’s Farm Bill talks are frozen. In September, Congress allowed the 2018 Farm Bill to lapse while it struggled to keep the government funded. Now they’ve kicked the can down the road to September 30, 2024 – but even that deadline seems like it will be <a href="[link removed]">difficult to meet</a>, with divisions in both chambers impeding meaningful progress. Rural America doesn’t have time to waste. In the face of unprecedented climatic conditions, high costs of essential goods, a workforce and housing crisis, rural residents and their businesses deserve a Farm Bill that sets an agenda for rural America to thrive in the 21st century. Earlier this year, OCP sent a <a href="[link removed]">letter</a> to both Ag Committees’ leadership outlining our priorities. All we want for Christmas is a <a href="[link removed]">Farm Bill</a> that <a href="[link removed]">secures the farming foundation</a> for our agriculture sector, provides the resources Americans need to continue <a href="[link removed]">living and working in rural regions</a>, and opens opportunities for <a href="[link removed]">rural economic growth</a>.
PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE
One of OCP’s Farm Bill priorities <a href="[link removed]">proposes</a> the creation of a national paid family and medical leave program. Such a policy would ensure that workers can take time off to care for a new child or a sick family member without risking their job or financial security. OCP conducted a statewide survey in Wisconsin and <a href="[link removed]">found</a> that over three-fourths of voters (78%), regardless of party, support Congress implementing a national paid family and medical leave program, and more than half of voters would be more inclined to vote for a candidate that supports a national paid leave policy. Instituting a national paid family leave policy would help to enhance workplace productivity, contribute to positive public health outcomes, and boost the economy. <a href="[link removed]">View the poll results here</a>.
RURAL HEALTH CARE
OCP launched a series of blog posts and op-eds from board members that shed light on key affordability and access disparities that rural Americans face when seeking health care. Learn more about how long distances to hospitals, fewer doctors, financial strain, and proposed federal policies are negatively impacting <a href="[link removed]">pediatric</a>, <a href="[link removed]">senior</a>, <a href="[link removed]">maternity</a>, <a href="[link removed]">emergency room care</a>, and <a href="[link removed]">mental health</a> in rural regions.
RURAL CHAMPION AWARDS
Our <a href="[link removed]">2023 Rural Champion Awards</a> recognized Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02) for their commitment to supporting agriculture, diversifying the rural economy, and improving quality of life for rural residents. <a href="[link removed]">Learn more here</a>.
HOT DISH PODCAST
Throughout this year, our founder Heidi Heitkamp and her brother Joel Heitkamp have co-hosted OCP’s <a href="[link removed]">Hot Dish podcast</a>, where they’re joined by policymakers, small business owners, reporters, and other advocates for rural America to talk about what happening across the heartland what should be done to make rural life better. If you haven’t tuned in yet, feed your ears and <a href="[link removed]">listen now</a>.
OCP wishes you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season! We’ll see you in the new year.
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