U.S. Representatives John Peterson (R-PA/5) and Allen Boyd (D-FL/2) will be heading up the Congressional Rural Caucus (CRC) during the 108th Congress, taking the reins from outgoing Co-Chairs Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Eva Clayton (D-NC).

 

The Congressional Rural Caucus is a bipartisan coalition of more than 130 Members of Congress committed to strengthening and revitalizing rural communities across America. The CRC seeks to promote policies that will foster sustained economic growth in rural communities; ensure access to quality, affordable health care in rural areas; improve education and workforce training opportunities in rural America; promote responsible use of public lands and natural resources; and modernize the rural telecommunications infrastructure.

 

"Rural America is too often left behind when it comes to national policy decisions," according to Peterson. "In rural communities, health care providers continue to receive an inadequate share of the federal resources when compared to their urban and suburban counterparts, making it extremely difficult to provide quality, affordable health care. Our manufacturing and natural resource-based economy continues to face serious challenges. And our rural infrastructure, from highways to high-speed Internet, is in urgent need of improvement if we are to retain and attract good jobs in rural America. I look forward to working with my good friend Allen Boyd and my colleagues on the Rural Caucus to put the needs of our rural communities back in the forefront of the national agenda."

 

“There are many critical issues currently facing rural America,” said Congressman Boyd. “As one of the new Co-Chairs of the Rural Caucus, I am both excited and energized as we continue to tackle these issues and promote effective solutions for rural America. John Peterson and I both have a great understanding of the problems currently facing the rural areas of this nation, and I look forward to working with him to develop and promote the much-needed remedies for these problems.”

 

According to outgoing Co-Chair Jo Ann Emerson, "Communicating the unique needs and challenges facing rural America requires unique and special people. Both Congressman John Peterson and Congressman Allen Boyd possess the passion and ability to build on the successes we have achieved over the last two years in the Rural Caucus, and I look forward to their leadership as the Rural Caucus enters a new era."

 

Peterson, who is serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, is a member of the Appropriations and the Resources Committees. Peterson worked last year with outgoing Caucus Co-Chair Eva Clayton to successfully pass legislation establishing a new national grant program to provide funding and technical assistance for rural planning and development initiatives.

 

Congressman Allen Boyd is currently serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Appropriations Committee. Boyd represents Florida’s 2nd Congressional District, which is an area of North Florida that is distinctly rural yet surprisingly diverse. A fifth generation farmer, Boyd also continues to oversee the family farm operations.