WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to visit a family farm in Minnesota on Wednesday as part of a two-week tour by top administration officials in rural America. This series of visits aims to spotlight the positive impact of government spending on people’s lives, while also optimizing the content for SEO.
Biden’s choice of Minnesota is significant, coinciding with Democratic Rep. announcing his presidential campaign, becoming the first elected official to challenge Biden in the 2024 primary. However, the administration had planned the trip long before Phillips’ announcement, emphasizing its focus on policy rather than politics.
Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will utilize the farm as a backdrop to showcase the positive outcomes of federal investment in rural areas. They will highlight legislation championed by the White House including the public works law passed in 2021 and last year’s health care and green energy package.
The White House aims to highlight improvements to critical infrastructure, such as high-speed internet, safer roads and bridges, clean drinking water, and reliable energy. The objective is to demonstrate that economic opportunities exist in rural communities and individuals do not have to relocate. This message is particularly relevant as rural areas have increasingly shifted their support toward Republicans in recent elections.
Although the tour may inadvertently aid Biden’s reelection campaign by raising awareness of popular programs, its primary purpose is to showcase various administration initiatives across rural America. For instance, $1 billion has been allocated to increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, offering farmers more market options and reducing prices.
Other officials participating in the tour will promote programs such as Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities to combat climate change and provide new market opportunities for farmers. Each official will focus on specific aspects relevant to their respective departments and regions.
The tour includes stops in Indiana to address future farmers, Wyoming and Colorado to highlight land conservation efforts, and New Mexico and Colorado to discuss water infrastructure and remediation of abandoned mines. The trip will encompass discussions on a variety of vital topics including access to medical care for veterans, loans for rural small businesses, the role of community colleges, and healthcare accessibility.
The set of visits will culminate in Pennsylvania, where acting Labor Secretary Julie Su will discuss boosting employment opportunities in rural areas. Furthermore, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai will travel to Indiana to underscore the benefits of international trade for rural farmers and producers.
