State Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, went to the White House on Tuesday, where he attended a conference geared toward removing barriers to success for rural America.
He called the Rural Prosperity with State and Local Leaders event refreshing with rural issues being in the spotlight at such a high level of government. Rural Pennsylvania –– and rural America –– have some significant needs, Causer said.
“I think it was a great meeting. I was honored to be asked to attend,” said Causer, who was the only elected official from Pennsylvania to attend the event.
During the event, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue concentrated on the need to build up technology infrastructure in rural communities, citing its impact on precision agriculture, telemedicine, education, commerce and overall quality of life.
He pointed to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order aimed at streamlining and expediting requests to locate broadband facilities in rural America. Such an effort would bring high-speed internet service to an estimated 39 percent of rural Americans who do not currently have the service.
“We have been talking a lot about rural broadband on the state level and what we can do legislatively to help rural areas like ours. It really is a vital component to rebuilding our rural economy,” said Causer, who is the chairman of the state House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
Causer said Perdue also talked about other priorities for the USDA, including trade, labor, education and regulatory reform, and about the threat of invasive species to the agriculture industry.
“I was also encouraged by the secretary’s comments about the United States Forest Service and how they need to do a better job of managing our forests to ensure they are both healthy and productive to support our rural economy,” Causer said.
He said he is optimistic at the progress being made into rural issues, and said cooperation and coordination at all levels of government is vital into reaching those goals.
“The people who addressed the conference (Tuesday) clearly recognize the importance of this sector of our economy and the people who live in our rural communities,” he said.
Finally, after years of neglect from the prior administration, Causer said rural America is getting needed and deserved attention and support.
The Rural Prosperity with State and Local Leaders event included leaders from across the United States, including legislators, state agriculture secretaries and lieutenant governors. Although Causer said he did not see Trump, he did get a chance to listen to Vice President Mike Pence.
