H.R. 414 Investing in Rural America Act aims to eliminate regulatory barriers to capital investment in rural areas, particularly in critical community facilities like hospitals, childcare centers, and senior care centers, attracting private sector investment to strengthen rural communities and encourage future generations to see them as home.

Status: In Committee (Committee on Small Business)

Our Take: Many of our rural communities are facing population decline because they’re struggling to keep and attract younger generations. If we want to restore our communities and help them drive, we must provide the necessary resources to help these communities thrive. The Investing in Rural America Act will help reverse this trend and provide the necessary resources to help these communities thrive through improvements to the Community Facilities Loan and Grant Program.

This bill eliminates unnecessary regulatory barriers to capital investment, especially for critical community facilities like hospitals, childcare centers, and senior care centers. This creates a more attractive environment for private sector investment in rural areas, bolstering the infrastructure and services that are essential for these communities to grow. 

I also recognize the importance of building partnerships to maximize the impact of this act. That’s why the act requires farm credit institutions (FCIs) to collaborate with local lenders and non-FCI institutions on financing rural projects. These partnerships will expand the reach of investment opportunities and ensure that more communities can benefit from the act’s provisions.

By providing funding and support, we can attract investors for these essential community facilities, which in turn will help future generations see rural areas as vibrant places to live, work, and raise families.