,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #egfb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #e1 #bjbj,mr4 ,cartwright 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,rogers of ,kentucky1 ,mr4 ,bishop of ,georgia1 ,mr4 ,costa1 ,mr4 ,pappas1 ,mrs4 ,bustos1 and ,mr4 ,balderson7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,white ,house ,rural ,council1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,transforming ,hiring in ,rural ,industries and ,vital ,economies ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,white ,house ,rural ,council 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,executive ,office of the ,president a ,white ,house ,rural ,council 7in this section referred to as the ,council74 7b7 ,membership 7#a7 ,chair ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall serve as the ,chair of the ,council4 7#b7 ,members ,the ,council shall be composed of the heads of the following3 7,a7 ,the ,department of the ,treasury4 7,b7 ,the ,department of ,defense4 7,c7 ,the ,department of ,justice4 7,d7 ,the ,department of the ,interior4 7,e7 ,the ,department of ,commerce4 7,f7 ,the ,department of ,labor4 7,g7 ,the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 7,h7 ,the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7,i7 ,the ,department of ,transportation4 7,j7 ,the ,department of ,energy4 7,k7 ,the ,department of ,education4 7,l7 ,the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 7,m7 ,the ,department of ,homeland ,security4 7,n7 ,the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7,o7 ,the ,federal ,communications ,commission4 7,p7 ,the ,office of ,management and ,budget4 7,q7 ,the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy4 7,r7 ,the ,office of ,national ,drug ,control ,policy4 7,s7 ,the ,council of ,economic ,advisers4 7,t7 ,the ,domestic ,policy ,council4 7,u7 ,the ,national ,economic ,council4 7,v7 ,the ,small ,business ,administration4 7,w7 ,the ,council on ,environmental ,quality4 7,x7 ,the ,white ,house ,office of ,public ,engagement and ,intergovernmental ,affairs4 7,y7 ,the ,white ,house ,office of ,cabinet ,affairs4 7,z7 ,any other department1 agency1 or office of the executive branch as the ,president or ,secretary of ,agriculture may designate4 7#c7 ,designees ,any member of the ,council may designate a senior-level official1 who is employed full-time in the department1 agency1 or office of such member1 to carry out the duties of the member under this section4 7c7 ,meetings ,not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and every six months thereafter1 the ,council shall convene a meeting of representatives of the executive departments1 agencies1 and offices represented on the ,council to develop plans to coordinate the efforts of such executive departments1 agencies1 and offices and facilitate efficient services to stakeholders4 ,at such meetings1 each such representative shall-- 7#a7 share information regarding the rural economic development efforts and activities of the representative's executive department1 agency1 or office2 7#b7 identify opportunities for collaboration and coordination of research agendas1 vulnerability assessments1 data collection and analysis1 and planning and implementing rural economic development projects2 7#c7 identify rural economic development information needs1 research gaps1 and decision support needs that are not met by any executive department1 agency1 or office represented on the ,council and make available such identification for purposes of information to be submitted to the ,council2 7#d7 identify common and complementary goals for rural economic development within each region to be prioritized for the coming year and beyond2 7#e7 identify barriers to rural economic development planning and implementation that can be overcome or minimized through ,federal action and specific suggestions for improvement2 7#f7 evaluate progress and jointly develop a strategy for realizing rural economic development-related goals1 including clearly identified responsibilities by each collaborating regional office1 center1 or program2 and 7#g7 share experiences and best practices in stakeholder engagement and communication1 decision support1 and economic development interactions that support the realization of identified rural economic development goals4 7d7 ,duties ,the ,council shall carry out the following3 7#a7 ,coordinate with the ,domestic ,policy ,council and the ,national ,economic ,council to develop the policy of the ,council4 7#b7 ,coordinate with departments1 agencies1 and offices of the executive branch to develop policy recommendations that promote economic prosperity and quality of life in rural areas 7as defined by the ,secretary of ,agriculture7 throughout the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,make recommendations to the ,president1 through the ,director of the ,domestic ,policy ,council and the ,director of the ,national ,economic ,council1 on how to best use ,federal investments in rural areas for the purpose of facilitating job growth and economic development4 7#d7 ,coordinate and increase the effectiveness of ,federal engagement with rural stakeholders1 including agricultural organizations1 small businesses1 education and training institutions1 health care providers1 telecommunications services providers1 research and land grant institutions1 law enforcement1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments1 and nongovernmental organizations regarding the needs of rural areas throughout the ,united ,states4 7#e7 ,coordinate ,federal efforts directed toward the growth and development of geographic regions that encompass both urban and rural areas4 7#f7 ,identify and facilitate rural economic opportunities associated with energy development1 outdoor recreation1 and other conservation-related activities4 7e7 ,administration ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7or staff designated by the ,secretary7 shall provide to the ,council administrative support services and additional resources1 as appropriate1 to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations4 ,the ,secretary shall determine the amount of funding and personnel necessary for the ,council to carry out its duties and the amount of funding and personnel each department1 agency1 or office represented on the ,council should contribute in order for the ,council to carry out such duties4 ,such department1 agency1 or office shall1 upon the request of the ,secretary1 make available to the ,council personnel1 administrative support services1 and information4 7f7 ,no additional funds authorized ,no additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this section4 ,such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized4