With USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack by her side, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton outlined her rural economic development plan at the Des Moines Area Community College-Ankeny campus on Wednesday. Less than 24 hours earlier, Vilsack announced his endorsement of Clinton.
“She is loyal,” said Vilsack. “It’s a very personal decision, and it’s one that I didn’t hesitate to make in 2008, and I don’t make hesitate to make it today. I know what kind of person she is, and I know what kind of leader she would be. And I am confident she would be an incredible president.”
Clinton then took the stage and put forward her vision for rural America, highlighting four areas she sees chances to improve: energy, investment, agriculture, and access to healthcare and education.
On energy
“We need to capitalize on rural America’s strength to be a producer of clean, renewable energy,” said Clinton. “I have set two big goals for our future: half a billion solar panels within four years, and enough renewable energy to power every home in America within ten years. That will create jobs, it will grow our economy, and it will especially help rural economies, as well as curb climate change. Climate change poses a particular threat on farm communities with droughts and extreme weather.”
Clinton also touched on strengthening the Renewable Fuel Standard and doubling investment in loan guarantee programs that help bring manufacturing facilities that use renewable products into rural communities.
Investment
“The vast majority of the 46 million Americans who live in rural communities don’t actually farm themselves,” said Clinton. “And many who do farm, rely on second jobs and outside income to make ends meet, so it’s essential that we create jobs with higher wages in a wider variety of industries. Small and medium businesses are what we need. But too often people can’t get access to credit.”
Focusing on investing in small businesses is a goal of Clinton’s rural development plan, and she said she wants to expand on the number of rural investment companies and make it easier for community banks to give out small loans, as well as building up rural infrastructure.
Agriculture
“We have to stand with our farmers, give them the tools and support they need to boost both production and profits,” said Clinton. “In too many ways, the deck is stacked against them. As president, I’ll make sure there are plenty of federal resources like disaster assistance and crop insurance go to farmers and ranchers who need it the most, not those who have the biggest businesses.”
The Democrat also said she wants to capitalize on trade, but to be smart about it.
“Done right, trade can drive a lot of economic growth, particularly for farmers who export produce and other products overseas,” said Clinton. “We need to set a high bar for trade agreements.”
Access to healthcare and education
“This is the key to strong families and communities,” said Clinton. “I want free community colleges to be part of what I’m going to be doing, and they are. We are going to offer refinancing the student debt that is out there already, and we are going to make sure that nobody has to borrow tuition money to go to public college.”
Investing in rural healthcare is also a main goal of Clinton’s rural plan.
“I know many families here in Iowa are worried about even more rural hospitals closing, but telemedicine can help,” said Clinton. “Here in Iowa, you just won an important victory stopping efforts to prevent Planned Parenthood from providing telemedicine services to women who may not be able to make it to a larger city. Thousands of women in Iowa have used these services in recent years. How can anyone be advocating for denying women access to healthcare?”
Clinton is the first candidate from either political party to put forward such a detailed rural economic development plan, though contender Martin O’Malley’s campaign has pointed out Clinton’s “flip-flop” on rural issues such as ethanol-gas blends. Clinton visits Sioux City later today.
