S2155-118

Introduced

To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish the Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration and to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish the Rural Future Partnership Fund to invest in the rural areas of the United States to achieve their preferred future while maximizing their contribution to the well-being of the United States, and for other purposes.

118th Congress Introduced Jun 22, 2023

Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.

Summary

What This Bill Does

This bill creates a major new federal investment in rural America through the Rural Future Partnership Fund, authorizing $10 billion per year for five years (2022-2026). Rural communities can form regional councils to develop comprehensive plans and receive flexible block grants for economic development, infrastructure, and community services.

Who Benefits and How

Rural communities and local governments gain access to substantial flexible federal funding for locally-determined priorities. Land-grant universities and cooperative extension services benefit as eligible technical assistance providers. Rural businesses, healthcare providers, childcare centers, and nonprofits can receive direct assistance through the block grants.

Who Bears the Burden and How

USDA must establish a new Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration and hire at least 3 new employees per state office. Federal taxpayers fund the $10 billion annual appropriation. Rural partnership councils face planning, reporting, and performance requirements.

Key Provisions

  • Authorizes $10 billion annually for the Rural Future Partnership Fund (2022-2026)
  • Creates the Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration within USDA
  • Establishes 5-year renewable block grants allocated by population with 3x bonus for high-poverty areas
  • Requires rural partnership councils to develop comprehensive plans and meet performance benchmarks

Evidence Chain:

This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.

At a Glance

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration and the Rural Future Partnership Fund to provide $10 billion annually in flexible block grants for comprehensive, locally-driven rural community and economic development.

Key Policy Areas

Rural Development, Economic Development, Agriculture, Infrastructure

Primary Purpose

Establishes the Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration and the Rural Future Partnership Fund to provide $10 billion annually in flexible block grants for comprehensive, locally-driven rural community and economic development.

Policy Domains

Rural Development Economic Development Agriculture Infrastructure

Rural Future Partnership Fund (Section 4)

Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Local governments in micropolitan areas
  • High-poverty rural census tracts
  • Land-grant universities and extension services
  • Rural businesses and nonprofits
  • Federally recognized Indian Tribes
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Federal taxpayers
  • Rural partnership councils (planning/reporting requirements)
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Purposes (Section 2)

Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Rural communities
  • Rural population centers
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Federal taxpayers
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration (Section 3)

Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • USDA Rural Development employees
  • Rural partnership councils
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • USDA
  • Federal budget
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Legislative Progress

Introduced
Introduced Committee Passed
Jun 22, 2023

Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Smith, and Mr. …

Stakeholder Effects

cui bono?

How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.

State & Local Government
8 mentions across 7 clauses
+4 positive -4 negative

Local governments in micropolitan statistical areas, Rural partnership council members, Rural partnership councils

Rural partnership councils faces effects in multiple directions

Positive-direction: Local governments in micropolitan statistical areas, Rural partnership council members

Negative-direction: State rural development offices

Government
5 mentions across 4 clauses
+2 positive -3 negative

Congress, USDA Rural Development, USDA Rural Development mission area

Positive-direction: Congress, USDA Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration

Negative-direction: USDA Rural Development, USDA Rural Development mission area, USDA state offices

Rural Communities
4 mentions across 4 clauses
+4 positive

Contiguous rural census tracts outside metro areas, Rural communities and regions, Rural communities eligible for block grants

Education
2 mentions across 2 clauses
+2 positive

Land-grant colleges and universities, Workforce development providers

Professional Services
2 mentions across 2 clauses
+2 positive

Eligible technical assistance providers, Private organizations in rural planning

Regional Economies
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

Urban-rural economic connections

Disadvantaged Communities
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

High-poverty rural census tracts

Telecommunications
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

Rural broadband and telecommunications providers

14/15
sections analyzed
Full impact breakdown

Bill Structure & Actor Mappings

Who is "The Secretary" in each section?

Domains
Rural Development
Domains
Agriculture Rural Development
Actor Mappings
"the_secretary"
→ Secretary of Agriculture
"the_administrator"
→ Administrator of Rural Innovation and Partnerships
Domains
Rural Development Economic Development
Actor Mappings
"the_secretary"
→ Secretary of Agriculture

Key Definitions

Terms defined in this bill

7 terms
"Council" §385A(a)

A rural partnership council established under section 385C(a)

"eligible technical assistance provider" §385A(b)

An entity with demonstrated national or regional capacity to deliver rural planning activities, including federally recognized Indian Tribes, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, or private organizations

"Fund" §385A(c)

The Rural Future Partnership Fund established under section 385B

"institution of higher education" §385A(d)

As defined in Higher Education Act, including land-grant colleges and universities and associated cooperative extension services

"Plan" §385A(e)

A rural partnership plan established under section 385E(a)

"reservation" §385A(f)

Indian country as defined in 18 USC 1151, including land held by Native groups, Regional Corporations, or Village Corporations under ANCSA

"rural partnership block grant" §385A(g)

A grant awarded under section 385D

We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.

Learn more about our methodology