NACo's Rural Action Caucus is a key component of NACo. RAC is the voice for America's rural counties before Congress and the Administration. Nearly two-thirds of the nation's 3,068 counties are designated as rural, with a combined population of 60 million. County elected officials from these rural areas are dedicated to solving many critical issues impacting rural life and development. These include infrastructure development, broadband deployment, development of new rural clinics and hospitals, road and bridge construction and maintenance, business development opportunities and many more county responsibilities.
Since 1997, NACo's Rural Action Caucus has addressed critical federal, state and local issues such as:
- Reauthorization of the farm bill with increased funding emphasis on rural development programs,
- Funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT),
- Reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools & Community Self Determination Act, and
- Increased assistance in dealing with the methamphetamine crisis
RAC's 2012 Priorities
- Relief from Unfunded Federal Mandates
- Farm Bill Reauthorization/Rural Development Appropriations
- Surface Transportation/Aviation Reauthorization
- Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT)
- Rural Health and Substance Abuse