Capitol Ideas | 2018 | Issue 3 | Discovering Rural America

MAY | JUNE 2018

DISCOVERING RURAL AMERICA RETOOLING THE RURAL WORKFORCE COMMUNITY LIBRARIES BRIDGE DIGITAL DIVIDE GROWING YOUNG FARMERS IN AN AGING FIELD STATES PROTECT NATION’S FOOD SUPPLY FROM DROUGHT

5 QUESTIONS WITH

HOUSE SPEAKER SARA GIDEON | Maine

Thank you!

CSG’S 2018 LEADERSHIP CIRCLE

To learn more about CSG’s Leadership Circle and Associates Program, please contact Maggie Mick, Director of Advancement | The Council of State Governments | ph 859.244.8113 | mmick@csg.org

May/June DISCOVERING RURAL AMERICA ON THE COVER Speaker Sara Gideon is serving her first term as Speaker of the House and third term in the Maine House of Representatives.

Throughout her time in the House, Gideon has worked to promote renewable energy sources and increase energy efficiency in order to build a clean-energy economy. She’s also been a vocal advocate for high-speed internet and laid the groundwork for expansion in rural areas by increasing funding for planning grants for municipalities and regional entities. Maine is the most rural state in America with 61.3 percent of its population living in rural areas.

Photo Courtesy Tiffany Converse Photography

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10 DISCOVERING RURAL AMERICA

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NEW FARM BILL COULD SHIFT FUNDS FOR STATES

GROWING FARMERS

DRIED UP?

The future of farming in the United States depends on young and new farmers as the population ages.

Although there are a number of obstacles that either prevent young people from getting into farming or cause them to stop farming early in their careers, certain state policies can help.

Droughts cost California’s agricultural industry $2.2 billion in 2014, based on losses in crop revenue, livestock value and the cost of groundwater pumping. The impact of the drought on the agricultural sector eliminated 17,100 jobs from the state economy.

With the 2014 farm bill set to expire at the end of this fiscal year— Sept. 30, 2018—states should watch closely for potentially significant changes to the funding available for many of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s largest programs.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Rural America covers 97 percent of the nation’s landmass and has more than 60 million residents.

While that’s only 19 percent of the population, rural Americans play an important cultural and economic role in our nation. So, what exactly is rural America?

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MAY/JUNE

FEATURES

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42

SPOTLIGHT: Discovering Rural America

10 Discovering Rural America

30 Unpacking Food Labels

Rural America covers 97 percent of the nation’s landmass and has more than 60 million residents. While that’s only 19 percent of the population, rural Americans play an important cultural and economic role in our nation.

So, what exactly is rural America?

The federal government and state governments regulate many labels, including the sometimes-ambiguous dates found on packages. Some labels are mandatory, many are voluntary and others are marketing tactics.

18 New Farm Bill Could Shift Funds for States With the 2014 farm bill set to expire at the end of this fiscal year—Sept. 30, 2018—states should watch closely for potentially significant changes to the funding available for many of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s largest programs.

22 Growing Farmers The future of farming in the United States depends on young and new farmers as the population ages.

Although there are a number of obstacles that either prevent young people from getting into farming or cause them to stop farming early in their careers, certain state policies can help.

24 Get to Know Maine House Speaker

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Sara Gideon

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Speaker Gideon has worked to promote renewable energy sources and increase energy efficiency. She’s also been a vocal advocate for high-speed internet and laid the groundwork for expansion in rural areas.

Gideon talks policy in this piece, but also shares about her home state, Maine.

26 Dried Up? Droughts cost California’s agricultural industry $2.2 billion in 2014, based on losses in crop revenue, livestock value and the cost of groundwater pumping.

The impact of the drought on the agricultural sector eliminated 17,100 jobs from the state economy.

32 Retooling a Rural Workforce In Iowa, Des Moines Area Community College is considered a leader in workforce development and worker retraining and its programs are often cited by experts as an example of doing workforce retraining right.

36 Agriculture in America In many states, the top crops by yield and dollar value are commodity crops used to feed livestock or for sale on the commodity market, as opposed to direct sale or consumption. We ranked the top produce crop, primarily used for human consumption, by dollar value in each state.

38 Rebuilding Rural America More than 61 percent of Maine’s population lives in rural areas. With a population of just over 1.3 million spread out over 35,385 square miles, that can make providing for the state’s infrastructure challenging.

42 Legislating & Farming Kansas state Sen. Carolyn McGinn has served in the Legislature since 2005. There she has worked to balance rural and urban needs, and advocate for transparency in budgeting and campaign finance. But outside of her legislative duties, she also operates a family farm.

44 Rural Libraries Bridge the Digital Divide Public libraries have always been more than buildings where patrons borrow books, and now some libraries are stepping up to provide high-speed internet access to residents, students and business owners in rural areas where options are limited.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT CSG

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THEY TWEETED IT | rural/agriculture

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REGIONAL ROUNDUP | east

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REGIONAL ROUNDUP | south

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REGIONAL ROUNDUP | midwest

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REGIONAL ROUNDUP | west

48 FINAL FACTS | state flags

publisher DAVID ADKINS

dadkins@csg.org

editor-in-chief KELLEY ARNOLD

karnold@csg.org

contributing SEAN SLONE

writers CSG Director, Transportation and Infrastructure Policy sslone@csg.org

LESLIE HAYMON managing editor COURTNEY DANIEL CSG Policy Analyst

cdaniel@csg.org

lhaymon@csg.org

associate editors SHAWNTAYE HOPKINS

DEVASHREE SAHA shopkins@csg.org

LISA MCKINNEY lmckinney@csg.org

CSG Director, Energy and Environmental Policy dsaha@csg.org

CAPITOL IDEAS, ISSN 2152-8489, MAY/JUNE 2018, Vol. 61, No. 3—Published

by The Council of State Governments, 1776 Avenue of the States, Lexington, KY 40511-8536. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Council of State Governments nor the views of the editorial staff.

Readers’ comments are welcome. Subscription rates: in the U.S., $42 per year.

Single issues are available at $7 per copy. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Capitol Ideas, Sales Department, The Council of State Governments, 1776 Avenue of the States, Lexington, KY 40511-8536. Periodicals postage paid at Lexington, Ky., and additional mailing offices.

Mailing lists are available for rent upon approval of a sample mailing. Contact the sales department at (800) 800-1910.

Copyright 2018 by The Council of State Governments. Periodicals postage paid at Lexington, Ky., and at additional mailing offices.

technical editor CHRIS PRYOR cpryor@csg.org 30

graphic designers THERESA CARROLL

SFI-01681

tcarroll@csg.org

CHRIS PRYOR cpryor@csg.org

CHAD YOUNG cyoung@csg.org

email capitolideas@csg.org website capitolideas.csg.org

Gov. Gary Herbert UTAH CSG National President

Assemblyman Michael Benedetto

KENTUCKY CSG National Chair

NEW YORK CSG East Co-Chair

David Adkins

Wendell M. Hannaford

CSG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO dadkins@csg.org

CSG EAST DIRECTOR whannaford@csg.org

Sen. James Seward NEW YORK CSG East Co-Chair

Sen. Ed Charbonneau Senate Pres. Pro Tem INDIANA Ron Richard CSG Midwest Chair

MISSOURI CSG South Chair

Michael H. McCabe

Colleen Cousineau

Edgar Ruiz

CSG MIDWEST DIRECTOR mmccabe@csg.org

CSG SOUTH DIRECTOR fitzgerald@csg.org

CSG WEST DIRECTOR eruiz@csg.org

Sen. Stuart Adams UTAH CSG West Chair

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Senate President Robert Stivers

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what’s happening at csg

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CSG?

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CSG Advocates for States at the Supreme Court

To help states address election cybersecurity concerns, CSG has partnered with the Democracy Fund to create an advisory group of state and local government officials and experts in cybersecurity, information technology and election administration. Eight states, two from each of CSG’s four regions, will be invited to participate in the project. During a consortium meeting this year, attendees will learn about problems surrounding election cybersecurity and state solutions and best practices. Observations and lessons learned from the project will be distilled into a toolkit that any state can use to map a communications plan for an election cybersecurity breach.

The Supreme Court is deciding a case that could mean billions of additional dollars for states if state governments are given the authority to collect sales taxes from remote sellers, and CSG staff was in Washington, D.C., in April for the case’s oral arguments.

In South Dakota v. Wayfair, South Dakota is asking the Supreme Court to overrule precedent from Quill Corp. v.

North Dakota that barred states from making companies collect sales taxes if they do not have a local physical presence. CSG, in partnership with the State and Local Legal Center and the Big Seven organizations, filed an amicus brief critiquing Quill, which prompted Justice Anthony Kennedy to ask for a case to overturn the ruling.

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CSG Justice Center Releases Two Reports

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Police-Mental Health Collaboration Assessment Baltimore County, Maryland’s county executive asked the CSG Justice Center to conduct an assessment of its law enforcement and behavioral health collaboration, the Baltimore County Crisis Response System, which helps the county respond to people who have behavioral health needs.

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County Justice and Mental Health Systems Improvement Project Dauphin County, Pennsylvania’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board asked the CSG Justice Center to conduct a cross-systems data analysis of the flow of people who have serious mental illnesses through the county’s criminal justice system. The Justice Center identified ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of policies, programs and practices to achieve better public health and safety outcomes.

Both reports are available at csgjusticecenter.org.

Partnership With Democracy Fund on Election Cybersecurity

Stay at Work/Return to Work Leadership Team CSG assembled a group of state leaders in workforce development for people with disabilities to discuss ways to help states shape return to work/stay at work policy. Return to work programs aim to get workers with disabilities back to productivity as soon as possible during their recovery process.

The team met May 14–15 to discuss barriers to employment for people with disabilities and provide policy recommendations to address these barriers.

The recommendations will be included in a toolkit developed by CSG to serve states who want to expand their return to work/stay at work policy.

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Occupational Licensing State Visits CSG has participated in technical assistance meetings with Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, Utah and Wisconsin since the beginning of 2018. The meetings aim to help participating states become familiar with occupational licensing policy in their own state, learn about occupational licensing best practices in other states, and begin implementing actions to remove barriers to labor market entry and improve portability and reciprocity. Each state has formed a project team to include representation from relevant stakeholders involved in occupational licensing, including state legislators, the governor’s office, state workforce agencies, state regulatory or licensing boards, and state administrative agencies involved in occupational licensing.

they tweeted it

They Tweeted It Chris Lee @chrisleeforhi • Apr 27 House and Senate just agreed to a bill that will make Hawai’i the first state to ban the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos, responsible for thousands of deaths around the world #peoplefirst

Paul R. LePage @Governor_LePage • Feb 12 Pleased to join @realDonaldTrump and state and local leaders today to discuss our infrastructure needs. I am all in for modernized permitting & public-private partnerships to invest for the future, expand broadband, create jobs & grow our economy #mepolitics

Sen. Joan B. Lovely @SenJoanLovely • Apr 12 The Baker-Polito Administration awarded almost $7 Million in Workforce Training Fund Program Grants. Congratulations to the @HTSEngineering in the city of #Peabody for being awarded $65,800 to train 24 workers and by 2020 creating 9 additional jobs. #MApoli #workforcedevelopment

Ryan Quarles @RyanQuarlesKY • Apr 30 Thank you @kentuckyag for your hard work today! Bringing agriculture to consumers is a top priority for the agriculture community! Check out our Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade float Thursday! #KyAg365

WV Dept. of Ag @WVDeptofAg • Mar 27 Fun Farm Fact: Most produce in grocery stores travels an average of 1,300 miles from farm to your table.

Shop a farmers’ market and that number is more like 50 miles or less!

Know your farmer, know your food! @_WVFMA @wvfood

Mike Cunningham @SenCunningham33 • May 2 Thanks to my colleagues for their support of this important legislation that will aid deployment of rural broadband. #moleg

Scott Walker @ScottWalker • Mar 12 Today we signed a bill to increase Sparsity Aid funding in rural communities – driving success for students across the state! Our bold reforms are preparing students to enter our world-renowned workforce and ensuring a bright future for students and their families. #WIWorking

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Governor Roy Cooper @NC_Governor • Mar 20 Happy #NationalAgDay! Today we celebrate the men and women who make agriculture North Carolina’s number one industry! We’re already looking forward to this year’s @NCStateFair.

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regional roundup

The East CT • DE • MA • MD • ME • NH • NJ • NY • PA • RI • VT • NB • NS • ON • PE • PR • QC • VI VOTER REGISTRATION

PUBLIC HOUSING

In April, New Jersey became the third state this year to approve automatic voter registration, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts. Residents are automatically registered to vote when they get their driver’s license and must check a box to opt out of being registered, rather than opting in. Eleven other states and Washington, D.C., have similar systems in place.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed a monitor to oversee repairs to New York City’s public housing after declaring a state of emergency at the New York City Housing Authority in April.

The independent monitor will be charged with expediting repairs to deteriorating public housing and addressing the unhealthy conditions in some of the buildings, reported The New York Times. About 400,000 New Yorkers reside in public housing.

GUN RESTRICTIONS In April, Vermont passed the first significant gun ownership restrictions in state history, according the The Associated Press. The state raised the age to buy firearms and banned high-capacity magazines among other measures.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott had asked the Legislature to pass gun control legislation after a high school shooting in Fair Haven, Vermont, was prevented when police learned a student was planning on carrying out an attack.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

SHELTER DOGS

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FINANCIAL AID The Connecticut House of Representatives passed legislation in April that allows undocumented immigrants brought here as children, sometimes known as dreamers, to receive financial aid for public colleges and universities, according to The Connecticut Mirror. Seven other states allow access to financial aid to some undocumented students. Gov. Dannel Malloy praised the passage of the bill by the state Legislature and was expected to sign it into law.

Maine’s successful spay and neuter programs mean residents often have to look out of state to adopt a pet.

In 2017, more than half the dogs taken in by Maine shelters were transferred from other states, according to statistics from Maine’s animal welfare program. Maine’s successful campaign to cut pet overpopulation allows shelters to save pets in states where the animals may be euthanized, reported the Portland Press Herald.

For more on CSG East, visit capitolideas.csg.org and www.csg-erc.org.

Maryland Bans Pet Stores From Selling Cats and Dogs Maryland banned retail pet stores from selling kittens and puppies in an attempt to reduce demand for animals born in puppy mills, reported The Washington Post. Gov. Larry Hogan signed the legislation into law in April; it will take effect in 2020.

Del. Benjamin Kramer, the legislation’s sponsor, called the commercial breeders the legislation targets, sometimes referred to as puppy mills, “abominations” that lack “room for puppies to roam and for breeding dogs to play.”

Owners of the state’s affected pet stores, who asked the governor to veto the bill, said they use responsible breeders that lawmakers and animal rights advocates have incorrectly described as puppy mills. The store owners said the law will make it harder for Marylanders to find purebred dogs in the state and residents might start purchasing their pets online, where sales are harder to regulate.

“There are about seven pet stores in Maryland that might be affected, but there are thousands of puppies,” said Hogan when asked how the bill will affect small business.

Maryland already had regulations in place that required stores to disclose information about breeders and restricted them from buying from breeders that have received citations from the U.S. Agriculture Department within the past two years. But Kramer said the removal of inspection reports from the USDA’s website in 2017 made it difficult to ensure that breeders did not have citations.

regional roundup

The South AL • AR • FL • GA • KY • LA • MO • MS • NC • OK • SC • TN • TX • VA • WV SOLAR POWER Virginia’s capacity to generate solar power could triple over the next decade, according to The Virginian-Pilot. Citing projections from the Solar Energy Industries Association, the newspaper adds that Virginia’s solar power output may amount to 2,000 megawatts by 2023, enough to power about 200,000 homes.

Last year, the commonwealth placed 10th nationally in new solar capacity installations, up from 17th in 2016. Currently, solar power accounts for 0.5 percent of Virginia’s overall electricity generation.

TUITION-FREE EDUCATION

West virginia Begins Testing Mobile Voting

FARMERS AID The Ledger reports that a program to distribute federal disaster aid to Florida farmers impacted by Hurricane Irma will be established by July 2018. The federal program, authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, will provide $2.36 billion to farmers in Florida and other states that were affected by recent

MASS TRANSIT The Georgia General Assembly passed a transportation bill that will expand mass transit in the Atlanta metropolitan region, according The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The bill allows 13 metro Atlanta counties to impose sales taxes for mass transit expansion if approved by voters; creates a regional board to oversee the metro area’s future transit funding and construction; and allows additional counties to vote on joining the metro area’s regional transit system.

Prior to the bill’s passage, Gov. Nathan Deal announced that the state would borrow up to $100 million in bonds for new mass transit projects.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson unveiled an initiative designed to aid communities with recruiting job prospects and competing for development funding. The program, known as the “Competitive Communities Initiative,” was developed in consultation with local communities, site selection consultants and utility partners. Cities may complete an evaluation to identify how they can be more competitive with regard to economic development organizational structure, development funding and workforce readiness. After completing the evaluation, cities will receive a “Competitive Community” designation, which then can be marketed to industries and prospective job candidates.

For more on CSG South, visit capitolideas.csg.org and www.slcatlanta.org.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Government Technology reports that West Virginia is the first state in the nation to test mobile voting by blockchain, a cryptographic concept most prominently used by cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. The technology will be offered as part of a pilot test for a limited number of military service members and their families who are stationed overseas. Although state officials stress that only a few people will have an opportunity to participate, it eventually could be rolled out to eligible military voters statewide if the pilot is deemed a success.

West Virginia’s initiative is one of the most high-profile uses of blockchain technology to date, and the first to test it in a federal election. The program used for the voting initiative will record votes on a “chain” containing all the votes that are cast, with each vote being proven by a third-party participant. Voters’ identities are verified using biometric tools such as fingerprint scans.

With the new technology, voters can verify their vote was recorded by reviewing the blockchain, and they can vote from anywhere in the world if they have an internet connection. Moreover, officials assert, the process as currently envisioned has the potential to streamline voting for military members serving overseas, some of whom encounter difficulties casting absentee ballots when they are stationed in inaccessible areas.

There are some concerns about using blockchain technology for voting initiatives.

Building the technology relies on the work and expertise of third parties; if one entity gains an advantage over the competition, experts warn it will allow that entity to potentially manipulate election results.

Election officials in West Virginia will receive feedback from participants in the initiative before deciding whether they want to continue the program. However, there currently are no plans to expand it to the general voting population.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced that more than 10,000 people have applied to Tennessee Reconnect, a new statewide program enacted in 2017 that allows adults to attend community college or technical school tuition-free. The Associated Press reports that the average age of applicants is 34 years old, 90 percent of whom plan to work while attending school. Tennessee Reconnect is part of Haslam’s “Drive to 55” initiative to increase the number of Tennessee residents with a postsecondary degree or certificate to 55 percent by 2025.

hurricanes and wildfires. The state’s agricultural industry experienced a loss of $2.5 billion from Hurricane Irma.

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regional roundup

The Midwest IA • IL • IN • KS • MI • MN • ND • NE • OH • SD • WI • AB • MB • ON • SK MEDICAL MARIJUANA

SANCTUARY CITIES

A Michigan state panel in May recommended adding 10 new conditions, including autism, to the list of qualifying conditions for a medical marijuana card.

There is evidence that marijuana is an effective treatment for some autism patients, reported The Detroit News. The panel also recommended allowing medical marijuana use for Parkinson’s disease, obsessivecompulsive disorder and Tourette syndrome, among other conditions. The final decision on what conditions will qualify will be made by July 1.

A bill signed in April by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will allow state funding to be revoked from cities and counties that intentionally violate federal immigration law, often known as sanctuary cities, according to the Des Moines Register. The law takes effect July 1.

Supporting legislators said the law is in part a response to Iowa City’s policy not to use local resources to enforce federal immigration law.

PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS Illinois Transportation Department Secretary Randy Blankenhorn announced in May that IDOT will award $36 million for bike and pedestrian projects, including pedestrian bridges in Hillside and on Chicago’s lakefront, reported the Chicago Tribune. The Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grants federal funds every two years—applicants have to provide a match of at least 20 percent for the project locally and plan to spend the funds within four years.

ABORTION LAW The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in April affirmed a district court ruling that an Indiana abortion law is unconstitutional. House Enrolled Act 1337, signed into law in 2016, banned abortions sought because a fetus had been potentially diagnosed with a disability, among other prohibitions, reported The Indianapolis Star.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

WELFARE REFORM

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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in April signed several pieces of legislation that set limits on welfare programs and committed nearly $80 million for workforce training and reentry, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. One piece of legislation requires parents with children between the ages of 6 and 18 to work or get job training in order to retain FoodShare benefits—the state’s food stamp program— beyond three months.

For more on CSG Midwest, visit: capitolideas.csg.org and www.csgmidwest.org.

Ohio Closes Domestic Violence Loophole Ohio Gov. John Kasich in April signed a bill closing what was considered by many lawmakers and advocates to be a large loophole in the state’s domestic violence laws.

The bill expands the definition of domestic violence to include a “person with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship,” reported The Columbus Dispatch. Previously, domestic violence was defined in the state as violence between spouses, cohabitating people, or people who shared a child or family member. Ohio was one of only two states that didn’t provide legal protections to victims of violence within a dating relationship.

“For entirely too long, victims have been in the shadows,” said state Rep. Emilia Sykes, one of the bill’s sponsors. Sykes said the law sends a message to abusers that, “We will not tolerate this kind of behavior.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, one in four women and one in nine men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner.

regional roundup

The west AK • AZ • CA • CO • HI • ID • MT • NM • NV • OR • UT • WA • WY • AB • AS • BC • CNMI • GU TEACHER PAY

EARLY COLLEGE

Gov. Doug Ducey in April proposed raising teachers’ pay next year to 9 percent, reported azcentral.com.

Combined with 5 percent raises the following two years and a 1 percent raise given last year, Ducey said his proposal would give teachers a “net pay increase” of 20 percent by 2020. The 9 percent increase would bring the average teacher salary in Arizona to $52,725 this fall, according to the governor.

A report released in April showed that the number of high school graduates in Hawaii completing the state’s career and technical education pathways has climbed substantially since 2014, and the number of students who take college courses in high school has more than doubled. career and technical education pathways give students a chance to explore career options and gain workplace skills in a wide variety of fields, from engineering to entrepreneurship and nursing to natural resources.

FENTANYL

Utah Passes Nation’s First ‘Free-Range Parenting’ Law

NET NEUTRALITY Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed a bill in April withholding state business from internet providers who throttle traffic, reported The Associated Press. The bill stops the state from doing business with providers that offer preferential treatment to some internet content or apps, starting in 2019. The bill is aimed at counteracting relaxed net neutrality requirements at the federal level after the Federal Communications Commission repealed rules that prohibited such preferential treatment, referred to as throttling, by internet providers.

TRANSIT California officials announced in April that $2.4 billion from increases in the state’s gas tax and vehicle fees will be spent on transit projects, including preparing Southern California for the 2028 Summer Olympics, reported the Los Angeles Times.

An additional $1.9 billion for the projects will come from the state’s climate change program, which requires polluters to buy carbon emission credits. Some of the money will go to Metropolitan Transit Authority expansion projects, including light-rail extensions and additional rapid transit service.

For more on CSG West, visit: capitolideas.csg.org and www.csgwest.org.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Utah formalized parents’ right to practice “free-range parenting,” becoming the first state in the country to legislate around the child-rearing method that is meant to encourage independence through less adult supervision. Gov. Gary Herbert signed the law in March and it became effective May 8.

“Kids need to wonder about the world, explore and play in it, and by doing so learn the skills of self-reliance and problem-solving they’ll need as adults,” state Sen. Lincoln Fillmore said in a statement to ABC News. “As a society, we’ve become too hyper about ‘protecting’ kids and then end up sheltering them from the experiences that we took for granted as we were kids. I sponsored SB65 so that parents wouldn’t be punished for letting their kids experience childhood.”

The bill redefines negligence so that a parent can’t be charged for letting children walk alone outside, play outside without supervision, go to the store alone, wait in the car without an adult or other independent activities, reported Governing.

The bill requires children to be of “sufficient age” to do these activities on their own, but does not specify what qualifies as “sufficient age.” The bill passed the Utah House and Senate unanimously.

Recorded fatal overdoses from fentanyl or other synthetic opioids in Alaska more than quadrupled in a year, from eight cases in 2016 to 37 in 2017, according to the Alaska Division of Public Health. A total of 100 people died in Alaska from opioid overdoses in 2017, according to new preliminary data from state public health officials, reported the Anchorage Daily News.

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discovering rural america

DISCOVERING

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Rural America

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discovering rural america

Rural America covers 97 percent of the nation’s landmass and has more than 60 million residents.

While that’s only 19 percent of the population, rural Americans play an important cultural and economic role in our nation. So, what exactly is rural America?

A Snapshot of Rural America............................12 Defining Rural.................................................... 13 Where do Rural Americans Live?........................ 14 Homeownership in Rural Areas......................... 15 Rural Employment & Industry........................... 16 Rural States of America..................................... 17 Farming............................................................. 17

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discovering rural america

A SNAPSHOT OF RURAL AMERICA

60 50 40 30

MEDIAN AGE

51 45

67.6%

20 10

RURAL

BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHER

EMPLOYED

RURAL

URBAN

19.5

70%

29%

RURAL

URBAN

URBAN

0

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

12

5,000,000

$52,386 $54,296 0

$10,000

$20,000

RURAL

URBAN

$30,000

$40,000

NO INTERNET ACCESS 23.8%

17.3%

About 5 million, or 24 percent, of U.S. veterans 18 years and older lived in rural areas between 2011 and 2015.

$50,000

POVERTY RATE 20 15

RURAL

URBAN

10

16% 13.3%

5 Source: American Community Survey 2011–2015, U.S. Census Bureau

0

RURAL

URBAN

$60,000

discovering rural america SOME RURAL COUNTIES ARE GROWING While the total rural population is decreasing, 22 rural counties saw population growth over 10 percent from 2010 to 2017 and 70 rural counties saw population growth over 5 percent. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the oil and gas boom has contributed to rapid growth in the northern Great Plains, western and south Texas, and southeastern New Mexico.

State & County

Population Change 2010-2017

Population 2017

McKenzie, North Dakota

98.5 percent

12,724

Loving, Texas

59.5 percent

134

Mountrail, North Dakota

33.0 percent

10,265

RURAL COUNTIES WITH HIGHEST POPULATION GROWTH FROM 2016-2017

RURAL POPULATION 19.3%

54.4%

1910

RURAL COUNTIES WITH HIGHEST POPULATION GROWTH FROM 2010-2017

2010

State & County

Population Change 2016-2017

Population 2017

Loving, Texas

16.5 percent

134

Crowley, Colorado

10.5 percent

5,810

Hudspeth, Texas

8.0 percent

4,408

Source: Atlas of Rural and Small Town America, USDA Economic Research Service

DEFINING RURAL Rural can mean many things. It can refer to low population density, geographic isolation, small population size, or even a way of life.

Different organizations use different terminology, including terms such as nonmetro and micropolitan, sometimes interchangeably and sometimes meaning very different things.

The U.S. Census Bureau has three designations of rural counties.

The U.S. Census Bureau The U.S. Census Bureau defines rural as what is not urban and defines urban in the following ways.

2,500–50,000

Urbanized Areas: A population of 50,000 or more within a defined area.

Urban Clusters: A population of at least 2,500 and less than 50,000 within a defined area.

Mostly rural: Mostly rural counties have a population that is 50-99.9 percent rural. There are 1,185 counties that are mostly rural making up 11.9 percent of the U.S. population.

Mostly urban: Mostly urban counties have a population that is less than 50 percent rural. There are 1,253 counties that are mostly urban making up 86.3 percent of the U.S. population.

The Office of Management and Budget

USDA Economic Research Service

The Office of Management and Budget works with Micropolitan and Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Micropolitan areas have at least one urban cluster of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000, plus a degree of social and economic integration with larger, more populated areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan areas account for about 94 percent of the population and 47 percent of land area. Six percent of the population live in nonmetropolitan areas that cover 53 percent of the land area. Nonmetropolitan is not synonymous with rural, even though there is overlap.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service studies rural America in terms of nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) areas. Counties are considered nonmetro when they have some combination of open countryside and rural towns (places with fewer than 2,500 people). Areas with populations ranging from 2,500 to 49,999 can also be considered nonmetro if they are not a part of a larger labor market area.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

>50,000

Completely rural: Completely rural counties have a population that is 100 percent rural. There are 704 counties that are 100 percent rural making up 1.7 percent of the U.S. population.

13

discovering rural america

WHERE DO RURAL AMERICANS LIVE? Most Populous 100 Percent Rural County

LOUISA, VA Population: 35,860

Least Populous 100 Percent Rural County

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Source: Atlas of Rural and Small Town America, USDA Economic Research Service, American Community Survey (ACS) 2012–16

14

KALAWAO, HI Population: 88

64.4%

46.7%

of the total rural population lives east of the Mississippi River

of all people living in rural areas are in the South region

10%

61.3%

of the total population in the West region live in rural areas

Maine has the highest proportion of population living in rural areas at 61.3 percent

Source: Homes on the Range, U.S. Census Bureau, 2011–2015 ACS 5-year estimates

discovering rural america

HOMEOWNERSHIP IN RURAL AREAS More people in rural areas own their home than their counterparts in urban areas. This was true for every region in the U.S. People in rural areas also paid lower monthly household costs and were more likely to not have a mortgage payment.

81.1% RURAL 59.8% URBAN 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

RURAL HOMEOWNERSHIP RATES BY REGION NORTHEAST

100

80

MIDWEST

100

80

83.8%

83.6%

60

60

63.6%

58.2% 40

40

20

20

RURAL

RURAL

URBAN

0

URBAN

0

100

SOUTH

80

100

WEST

80

79.8%

77.3%

60

60

60.7%

56.7%

40

40

20

20

RURAL 0

URBAN

RURAL

URBAN

0

median monthly housing cost for households paying a mortgage

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median monthly housing cost for households paying a mortgage

15

discovering rural america

RURAL EMPLOYMENT & INDUSTRY

25%

20%

22.3%

Rural areas are more economically diverse than in the past with employment opportunities in teaching, nursing and retail trade expanding.

15%

12.1%

10%

10.9% 9.6%

8.4%

7.3%

5%

5.9%

5.8%

5.5%

4.6%

4.2%

0%

e

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

ale trad

tion Informa

Wholes ate

ilitar y

re a l e s t

m ation &

ce, insuran

er vices

, Finance

Other s

ministr

ent & anagem ices v ional m Profess nagement ser a waste m w a re r tation, Transpo utilities & housing

d Public a

tion

,

, reation ent, rec ser vices ter tainm od Ar ts, en dation and fo o accomm

c Constru

shing estr y, fi ure, for Agricult nd mining a hunting

Source: Beyond the Farm: Rural Industry Workers in America, U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2011–2015 5-year estimates

rade

cturing

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining employ 1 in 10 workers in rural counties, despite no longer being the top industries.

Retail t

Manufa

alth ices, he nal s e r v e Educatio ocial assistanc ds c are an

in

16

1.3%

2.3%

RURAL COUNTIES WITH HIGHEST MEDIAN INCOME

AVERAGE ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT CHANGE

The highest paid jobs in Elbert County, Colorado, are in the legal, architecture and engineering fields. The highest paid jobs in New Kent County, Virginia, include positions in the life, physical and social fields. The highest paid jobs in Aleutians West Borough, Alaska, include positions such as health practitioners and firefighting supervisors.

Rural areas have seen slower job growth both before and after the Great Recession. Employment has grown at less than half the metro rate during the economic recovery.

State & County

Median Income

Year

Nonmetro

Metro

Elbert, Colorado

$86,693

2003–2007

1.1%

2.2%

New Kent, Virginia

$84,486

2007–2010

-2%

-2%

Aleutians West, Alaska

$78,151

2010–2015

0.8%

1.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service

discovering rural america

RURAL STATES OF AMERICA

RURAL % <12%

12.124%

24.136%

36.148%

>48.1%

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Percent Urban and Rural by State

FARMING 910 MILLION

12,000

Farms in the United States in 2017

Acres of farm land in 2017

Number of farms decreased from 2016 to 2017

1 MILLION

3.2 MILLION

Acres of farm land decreased from 2016 to 2017

Farmers were in operation at the 2012 agriculture census

Source: Farms and Land in Farms 2017 Summary, USDA

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2.05 MILLION

17

discovering rural america

New Farm Bill

Could Shift Funds for States R o u g h ly e v e r y f i v e y e a r s , t h e U . S . C o n g r e s s ta k e s a w i d e - r a n g i n g l o o k at A m e r i c a’ s a g r i c u lt u r e a n d r u r a l e c o n o m y t h r o u g h l e g i s l at i o n c o l l o q u i a l ly k n o w n a s t h e fa r m b i l l . T h i s l e g i s l at i o n ’ s r e a c h e x t e n d s fa r b e y o n d a g r i c u lt u r a l p r o d u c t i o n t o e n c o m p a s s f o o d s a f e t y, r u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t a n d a n t i - p o v e r t y e f f o r t s .

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

by Leslie Haymon

18

With the 2014 farm bill set to expire at the end of this fiscal year—Sept. 30, 2018—states should watch closely for potentially significant changes to the funding available for many of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s largest programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, as well as other amendments to programs designed to address rural development needs.

“Agriculture is critically important to our economy,” said Pennsylvania state Sen. Judy Schwank. “[Congress] could build more flexibility into the programs so that they can address some of the … newer agricultural models.”

The first farm bill, officially titled the Agricultural Adjustment Act, passed in 1933 as a part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. Since that time,

the scope and depth of the legislation has grown significantly to include a variety of programs—many not traditionally considered agricultural—including grants for soil conservation, school lunch programs and rural broadband internet programs. SNAP, also known as food stamps, makes up the largest share of the farm bill’s $1.2 billion budget and was the principle point of contention during the last reauthorization.

The House voted on May 18 on its version of the farm bill; the bill failed to pass by a vote of 198-213.

While it is unclear whether the House will take up this bill again or draft new legislation, the policy goals expressed within the version considered by the House will likely be reflected in any subsequent legislation.

Source for Farm Bill Bar Graphic: Farm Bureau, Congressional Budget Office

The

Supplemental

Nutrition

Assistance

PROGRAM makes up

76.5%

of projected 2018–2028

FARM BILL SPENDING Crop Insurance, Conservation & Commodity Programs make up

23% >1%

Trade, credit, rural development, research, forestry, energy & horticulture

2018 farm bill

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Congress passed the last reauthorization in February 2014, over a year late, following debate from both sides of the aisle about funding and eligibility requirements for SNAP. With significant daylight still between the chambers over reauthorization, it is unclear whether the reauthorization process will be completed on time again.

The average monthly SNAP benefit per family in fiscal year 2017 was $254. Many beneficiaries are elderly, disabled or children; however, working parents are also a significant subset of beneficiaries. Nearly 40 million Americans were enrolled in SNAP in 2017, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

$254 AVERAGE MONTHLY

SNAP BENEFIT PER FAMILY IN FY 2017

From its inception, the farm bill has worked to support agricultural producers through a variety of mechanisms. Subsidies for production, insurance to protect against crop losses, and research and development programs are all

deal passed in February included additional support for cotton and dairy producers, farmers of other significant commodity crops will be looking for policies that ameliorate their falling income.

We are committed to maintaining a strong safety net for agricultural producers during these times of low prices and uncertain markets and continuing to improve our nation’s nutrition programs.” »House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, in a joint statement

funded through the farm bill. Many farmers have been squeezed by falling commodity prices and rising costs since the 2014 reauthorization. Commodity prices have fallen to a five-year low and 2018 projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show a similarly challenging economic environment.

Regulatory burdens weigh heavily on many farmers, according to North Dakota state Rep. Mike Brandenburg.

“Overbearing regulations … make us not competitive globally,” he said. Brandenburg also noted that he hopes to see efforts to curtail regulatory burdens that affect land use included in the upcoming farm bill.

Included in the farm bill’s provisions are programs designed to cushion and insulate producers from catastrophic events—natural or manmade. Although the two-year budget

“We are committed to maintaining a strong safety net for agricultural producers during these times of low prices and uncertain markets and continuing to improve our nation’s nutrition programs,” House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts said in a joint statement after the Trump administration released its 2019 budget proposal.

The Trump administration’s proposals included changes to crop insurance policies like the Harvest Price Option, which provides protection for lost production at the higher of either the price before planting or at harvest.

“Changes to the crop insurance regime may have some effect on farmers,” said Schwank.

“But it may be necessary to alter crop insurance premium subsidies to ensure passage of the overall bill.” continued on next page »

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SNAP benefits are fully federally funded, but states are responsible for distributing the benefits and administering the program. Changes to federal funding criteria could require states to overhaul administrative systems or find other funding mechanisms to make up for decreased benefits. There are also concerns about the capacity of states to implement additional eligibility requirements, like work requirements or drug testing, that have been discussed by the Trump administration.

Supporting Agricultural Producers

19

The first farm bill, officially titled

THE

AGRICULTURAL ADJUSTMENT ACT,

passed in 1933 as a part of President

Franklin Roosevelt’s

NEW DEAL Photo © Associated Press

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« continued from previous page

20

Rural Broadband

Conservation Efforts

Additional economic development programs, like rural broadband, may garner attention in the drafts. Funding for rural broadband projects is being sought under the bill’s rural development title. The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers a number of grant and loan programs designed to connect rural communities to high-speed internet to increase access to education and support economic revitalization efforts.

The House Agriculture Committee released its draft of the legislation on April 12, 2018. This draft included a number of significant changes to the nutrition programs while largely retaining the crop insurance and subsidies in present form.

has 72 million acres enrolled in conservation activities. Under the draft, this program would have been eliminated and some of its initiatives would have been reincorporated in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

The draft bill included stricter work requirements for SNAP beneficiaries, reorganized some of the crop subsidy and insurance schemes, and made significant changes to the Conservation Stewardship Program, which currently

“The elimination of CSP means fewer options for voluntary conservation, more pollution, and less resilient farms and ranches,” the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition said in a news release.

Rural broadband expansion is an area of bipartisan consensus, but little in the way of new programs or funding have emerged from either house in the last few years. The cost and difficulty of building out high speed network infrastructure have acted as a deterrent for internet service providers.

72

MILLION

ACRES

ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM

2018 farm bill

Title-by-Title Guide to the Farm Bill Title I Commodities The commodities title addresses support for traditional program crops, like cotton, wool, wheat and soybeans. The 2014 bill eliminated direct payments to producers, who received the money regardless of loss suffered or not suffered, in favor of a program that pays the difference between a statutorily defined â&#x20AC;&#x153;reference priceâ&#x20AC;? and market prices. Low commodity prices have led to higher than expected outlays, compared to the 2014 Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, estimate of over $13 billion more.

Title II Conservation Conservation programs underwent significant changes in the 2014 reauthorization, combining and streamlining over 20 different programs into three primary programs, the Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP, and the Conservation Stewardship Program, or CSP. This title is the fourth largest source of spending outlays. These conservation programs are of particular interest to state leaders because they are the single largest source of money for private, rather than public, land conservation efforts.

Title III Trade The trade title includes both exports and international food aid.

Commodity crop producers rely heavily on exports of their crops to international markets and continued uncertainty around trade will weigh on discussions about promoting agricultural exports.

Title IV Nutrition

Title V Credit Farm credit programs fill the credit gap for farmers and ranchers who are unable to borrow from commercial lenders but have the ability to repay loans.

Many rural areas are experiencing significant economic and social strain, because of factors such as a lack of reliable high-speed internet access and opioid addiction. The rural development portion of the farm bill provides money to states to modernize their infrastructure and address critical social needs.

Title VII Research Agricultural extension and research programs are a relatively small portion of overall farm bill spending, but they exercise an outsize influence on the agriculture section. These programs include research on disease and pesticides as well as efforts to train young and upcoming farmers and ranchers.

Title VIII Forestry The forestry provisions of the farm bill primarily address private land forestry and wildfire initiatives. The 2014 farm bill included provisions to address deteriorating forest conditions due to invasive species and insect infestation.

Title IX Energy Energy components of the farm bill primarily deal with biofuel production, including ethanol, and research efforts into new types of biofuels.

TITLE X Horticulture Non-commodity crops, also known as specialty crops, and certified organic farming, are covered by the horticulture title.

TITLE XI Crop Insurance The crop insurance program is permanently authorized; however, some changes were made in the 2014 bill. This included expansion of crop insurance to specialty crops, provisions to the value of crop insurance for organic crops, and a new crop insurance policy for cotton producers.

Crop insurance is the third largest spending driver in the farm bill.

TITLE XII Miscellaneous This title is a grab bag of programs that do not fit neatly into any of the other titles, including provisions addressing livestock production and inspections, animal health research and disease eradication programs, and efforts to assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Also included is the Payment In Lieu of Taxes, or PILT, Program, which provides payments to local and state governments who lose out on tax revenue because of the presence of nontaxable federal land.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is the largest component of the farm bill. It consumes roughly 80 percent of spending authorized in the farm bill, although stronger economic conditions have led to significantly lower spending than projected. Compared to the CBOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s estimate, SNAP spent roughly $26 billion less than the 2014 projection.

The average benefit per family was about $254 per month in 2017.

Title VI Rural Development

21

discovering rural america

Growing Farmers

by Shawntaye Hopkins

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

The future of farming in the United States depends on young and new farmers as the population ages. Although there are a number of obstacles that either prevent young people from getting into farming or cause them to stop farming early in their careers, certain state policies can help.

22

Farmers over age 65 outnumber farmers under age 35 by a margin of six to one, and about twothirds of farmland is managed by someone over age 55, according to a report by the National Young Farmers Coalition, titled Building a Future With Farmers II: Results and Recommendations from the 2017 National Young Farmer Survey.

With partner organizations, the coalition conducted a survey in January and February 2017 of past, current and aspiring farmers under age 40 in the United States.

Programs Help Young People Thrive in an Aging Field

The report details challenges that young farmers face, including an obstacle that plagues many young people for years or decades: student loan debt.

“For farmers, the challenge is particularly acute because being young in agriculture really matters,” said Lindsey Lusher Shute, executive director and co-founder of the National Young Farmers Coalition. “When you’re in your 20s, it’s the ideal time to really go full speed ahead.”

But young people with student loan debt can have trouble getting loans for land, farm equipment and other needs.

“They already have tens of thousands of dollars of debt to start with, and here they are needing more capital to start a farm operation that is by its nature risky,” Shute said.

Furthermore, the income of a beginning farmer is limited. Student loan debt could mean beginning farmers fail to get the money to capitalize their farms, and student loan debt could prevent students and recent graduates from choosing such a risky career in the first place.

States can help address the problem. New York, for example, has a student loan forgiveness program for farmers who attended New York schools, Shute said.

However, student loan debt was only the second biggest challenge facing young farmers; the top issue was land access. Both first-generation farmers and young people from farm families reported trouble finding and affording land. According to the coalition’s report, it was the top reason why young people stopped farming or never started.

young farmers A new law went into effect in Minnesota at the beginning of 2018 that provides tax credits to retiring farmers for the rent or sale of farmland or a variety of farm assets to beginning farmers.

According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, similar tax credits exist in Iowa and Nebraska, but Minnesota was the first state to provide incentives for the sale of farmland.

“I think the tax credit can benefit any state where there is a concern about the aging population of existing farmers,” Minnesota state Rep. Nels Pierson said. “The trend of larger corporate farms will continue if we can’t get young or new people interested in farming. This is a small way to help make that happen.”

population of farmers is key to the success of agriculture in our state,” he said.

New York state Sen. Patty Ritchie sponsored a bill, which was signed into law in December, designed to help a family member inheriting a farm through a trust to also inherit the tax credit the previous family farm operator received.

In addition, Ritchie helped secure funding in the 2018-2019 state budget for the American Farmland Trust, creating a program called Farmland for a New Generation.

“It is designed to help aspiring farmers find land to farm anywhere in the state,” she said. “American Farmland Trust will develop a statewide database of available farmland, both publically The time it could sometimes take for a beginning and privately owned, for farmers seeking land farmer to get approved for a loan made it difficult through either a purchase or lease agreement.” for landowners to consider selling or renting to beginning farmers versus established operators Agriculture is New York’s leading industry, Ritchie said. For the fourth consecutive year, the who could pay cash or get a loan quickly.

2018-2019 budget includes record funding for “The tax credit is designed to give the beginning agriculture, totaling $54.4 million. farmer a small advantage by incentivizing the “If we want to make sure that agriculture current owner to get a credit if they sell or rent the land to a beginning farmer,” Pierson said. remains a leading industry, we must come up with new, fresh ideas that will encourage more He said agriculture is a vital part of the Minnesota young people to consider farming a career,” she economy and encouraging young farmers and said. giving them access to land is critical.

The National Young Farmers Coalition surveyed 4,746 aspiring, current and former farmers under age 40 in January and February 2017.

of survey respondents were women.

of survey respondents did not grow up on a farm.

“In order to be competitive in a global market, I still believe having a dynamic and innovative

If we want to make sure that agriculture remains a leading industry, we must come up with new, fresh ideas that will encourage more young people to consider farming a career.” » New York state Sen. Patty Ritchie

Student Loan Debt

This was the top challenge cited by current farmers, aspiring farmers and young people who stopped farming.

Accessing credit for farming can be even more difficult with student loan debt.

Source: Building a Future With Farmers II: Results and Recommendations from the 2017 National Young Farmer Survey; youngfarmers. org/survey2017

Labor

Health Insurance

A lack of skilled farm labor affects the young farming community as well as the general farming community.

Lack of affordable health insurance puts many young and beginning farmers at risk.

Top 4 Challenges

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Access to Land

of survey respondents had degrees beyond high school.

23

discovering rural america

G E T • T O • K N O W

Sara Gideon MAINE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

SPEAKER SARA GIDEON is serving her first term as Speaker of the House and third term in the Maine House of Representatives. Throughout her time in the House, Gideon has worked to promote renewable energy sources and increase energy efficiency in order to build a clean-energy economy.

She’s also been a vocal advocate for high-speed internet and laid the groundwork for expansion in rural areas by increasing funding for planning grants for municipalities and regional entities.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Maine is the most rural state in America with 61.3 percent of its population living in rural areas. What policies have you worked to put in place to help rural Americans thrive?

24

Photo Courtesy Tiffany Converse Photography

“Access to affordable and reliable broadband service can be a game changer for all Mainers. That’s why I’ve been focused on policies that open the door to the deployment of next generation broadband technologies for everyone in our state. That means fostering increased competition in the broadband market, lowering deployment costs and, where appropriate, enabling communities to determine the broadband strategies that work best for them. Renewable energy is another big opportunity for rural Maine. We have an opportunity to put in place commonsense policies that will allow all Mainers to reap the benefits of renewable energy. Finally, the success of our state is still inextricably linked to the forest. New and exciting technologies are being developed that will help us harness Maine’s resources to produce advanced materials and energy sources.”

q&a

INTERESTING FACTS Almost every state is grappling with the drug epidemic.

How has Maine worked to curb drug use and provide treatment?

“In the past four years, we have taken action through legislation on all fronts: prevention, treatment, access to life-saving medication and enforcement.

Yet, we are still seeing this epidemic continue to rip through our communities at an increasing rate. To truly start turning the tide on combating this epidemic though, we need a concerted, all out effort from all branches of government. In the long term, we must increase prevention efforts, expand access to effective, affordable treatment, increase access to programs that support people’s long-term recovery, and address the underlying poverty and inequality that have delivered this crisis. I will continue to work not only to increase access to naloxone, but to move forward comprehensive legislation and finally reverse the horrifying statistics.”

The U.S. Census Bureau found that Maine was ranked 44 for median household income in 2017. What policies have you worked to pass that support working families in your state?

“Each session I’ve sponsored LIFT (Leveraging Investments in Families Today/ Tomorrow). My goal is to strengthen programs that help get working families into employment, and foster financial stability in households where kids are at a critical point in their development. These initiatives have brought progress in our fight to prevent rising childhood hunger, built bridges to employment for struggling adults, made child care and housing more affordable and gotten more of our neighbors back on their feet. Because of these laws, we will indeed be LIFTing at least 2,500 Maine children out of deep poverty (defined as income of less than $10,000 a year for family of three). This year, as part of my LIFT initiatives, I was able to pass a bill intended to strengthen the financial stability of low-income families with children through increased access to higher education and training. It establishes the Higher Opportunity Pathways to Employment job-training program that is specifically designed to ensure placement in a secure profession with economic stability.”

Why was it important for you not only to serve as a state representative, but also to step into a leadership role in the House?

What is something you would like people to know about Maine?

“Maine is simply a unique and incredible place to live, work and raise a family.

I may be slightly biased, but if you are considering a visit (or a move!), I can’t encourage it enough. I feel grateful every day that I get to live here and incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to tell as many folks as possible how incredible it truly is. There’s a reason why we say ‘worth a visit, worth a lifetime.’”

“All over my desk I have drawings and notes and pictures from my children. In the middle of very tense, very stressful moments that can occur here at the Legislature, it’s a great reminder of life ‘outside of the dome.’”

Does your family have any interesting traditions?

“Every single summer, we make sure to spend some time away from home on Mount Desert Island, hiking and biking in our beautiful Acadia National Park. Every summit has a special meaning and memory to each of us.”

Photo Courtesy National Park Service

What’s the population size of the town you grew up in?

“About 13,000 people live in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.”

What restaurant would someone have to eat at if they visited your district?

“Such a tough question! There are too many good choices!

If you are visiting from away, a real ‘Maine treat’ is to eat at the lobster pound at Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster Company.

Great views, great food and locally owned and run.”

What do you see when you look out your office window in the capitol building?

“I see a beautiful expanse of publicly owned land called Capitol Park. At the moment, as Maine is at the tail end of mud season it is not quite at full bloom, but the snow has melted and that itself is cause for celebration!”

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

“Throughout my time in public service, I’ve always focused on how I can be the most effective and how I can make a difference. It started out because I wanted to do my part in my community, first when I was volunteering in my children’s school and then it was serving on our Freeport Town Council. When I was elected to the state Legislature, my eyes were opened to an entirely new way to impact the lives of Maine families outside of my small town. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I personally believe that it is incredibly important to have women leading at all levels of government. And that while the ultimate effect of more women in leadership is better policy, it can also help more women imagine themselves in these positions.”

What’s something you keep in your office and why?

25

discovering rural america

States Work to Combat Drought Conditions

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

by Devashree Saha

26

California grows more than 400 crops, nearly half the nation’s fruits, vegetables and nuts, but drought conditions in the state are jeopardizing crops and the industry as a whole. Droughts cost California’s agricultural industry $2.2 billion in 2014, based on losses in crop revenue, livestock value and the cost of groundwater pumping. The impact of the drought on the agricultural sector eliminated 17,100 jobs from the state economy.

California is not the only state in the middle of a drought right now. As of Feb. 27, 2018, an estimated 55 percent of the continental United States was classified as abnormally dry and 31 percent of the country was affected by some level of drought—17 percent in severe to extreme drought.

“The recent drought has caused farmers to have to pump more water to produce crops. District 34 used to get 4-acre feet of water from the Rio Grande,” said Rep. Bealquin Gomez, chairman of New Mexico’s Agriculture and Water Committee. “Recently, however, the amount of water

we get from the Rio Grande has decreased significantly. In our district we have 35,000 acres to grow pecans, and it’s costing our farmers a lot more to pump the water needed.”

While the western half of the United States tends to be under more frequent and intense drought conditions, the U.S. Drought Monitor shows huge swaths of drought throughout most of the United States.

From California eastward all along the southwestern, southern, and southeastern United States to Florida and up the East coast all the way to Maine, there are large areas impacted by moderate to severe drought.

ACCESS TO WATER In California and other Western states, surface water supplies are highly vulnerable to drought, affecting farm production systems that depend heavily on surface water for irrigation. Furthermore, most aspects of water allocation are under the purview of state laws. Several states have established institutions for allocating water rights among competing uses and users based on seniority. In periods of reduced water availability, senior water rights holders in those states are first in line for water allocation. Water is delivered fully in order of seniority until allocation limits are reached, and then remaining rights holders receive no deliveries.

drought impacts

Many of the senior water rights in California are held by farmers. During droughts, the state water board has cut off people with more junior water rights to enable its agriculture industry to thrive. With the drought intensifying in 2015, however, some of California’s most senior water rights holders had their water uses restricted by state regulators and about 200 farmers in the Sacramento Delta region agreed to 25 percent reduction in water use in order to avoid stricter state controls—the first reduction in their water use since 1977.

The amount of water we get from the Rio Grande has decreased significantly. In our district we have 35,000 acres to grow pecans, and it’s costing our farmers a lot more to pump the water needed.”

—Rep. Bealquin Gomez, chairman of New Mexico’s Agriculture and Water Committee

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

The other source of water for California farmers is groundwater. California farmers have been pumping groundwater for decades, including at the height of the most recent drought from 2011 to 2016, when surface water was extremely scarce. During drought, groundwater supplies well over half of California’s water. However, recurring drought and groundwater overdraft—when the amount of water extracted is greater than the amount of water entering the aquifer—have resulted in large declines in aquifer levels in some areas. In response, California enacted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in 2014, which requires local agencies to create plans for monitoring groundwater pumping. The new legislation is intended to make California farming more resilient to future droughts. The concept, already used by many urban agencies, is to pump less and recharge basins more in wet and normal years. This makes groundwater more readily available (at lower cost) during droughts. continued on next page »

27

discovering rural america

U.S. DROUGHT CONDITIONS, MAY 2018

DROUGHT IMPACT TYPES

INTENSITY

Delineates dominant impacts

S Short-term, typically less than 6 months (e.g. agriculture, grasslands) L Long-term, typically greater than 6 months (e.g. hydrology, ecology)

D0 Abnormally Dry D1 Moderate Drought D2 Severe Drought

D3 Extreme Drought D4 Exceptional Drought

Source: United States Drought Monitor. Accessed May 7, 2018. droughtmonitor.unl.edu

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« continued from previous page

28

Investment in irrigation efficiency can also improve drought resilience.

High-efficiency irrigation technologies—such as drip irrigation systems and Low Energy Precision Application sprinklers, whose nozzles drop low to the ground—help stretch limited water supplies. The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program provides grant funding for California agricultural operations to invest in water irrigation and distribution systems that save water. To date, $61 million has been awarded for 587 projects covering over 109,000 acres.

KEEPING FARMERS IN BUSINESS A major drought can reduce crop yields, lead farmers to cut back planted or harvested acreage, reduce livestock productivity, and increase costs of production inputs such as animal feed or irrigation

water. Agriculture is an important sector of the U.S. economy and the frequency and severity of droughts across much of the country has posed significant challenges to the nation’s farmers and ranchers and threatened food security. The crops, livestock and seafood produced in the United States contribute more than $300 billion to the economy each year. When food service and other agriculture-related industries are included, the agriculture and food sectors contribute more than $750 billion to the gross domestic product.

Elsewhere in the country, states are taking a variety of actions. In 2017, an emergency state program helped nearly 500 drought-stricken North Dakota ranchers with the expense of hauling in hay to maintain their herds through winter. North Dakota approved $1.5 million for the Agriculture Department’s Emergency Hay Transportation Assistance Program. In announcing the program, Gov. Doug Burgum said, “The wide-

drought impacts

R E C E NT D ROUG HT IMPACTS North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana Drought (Spring–Fall 2017)

Western/Plains Drought/Heatwave (Spring–Fall 2013)

Extreme drought caused extensive impacts to agriculture in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. Field crops were severely damaged and the lack of feed for cattle forced ranchers to sell livestock. This drought contributed to an increased potential for severe wildfires.

Many Western states experienced moderate to extreme drought in 2013. In comparison to 2011 and 2012 drought conditions the U.S. experienced only moderate crop losses across the central agriculture states.

$ 2 .5 B IL L IO N West/Northeast/Southeast Drought (2016)

$11. 3 B I LLI O N U.S. Drought/Heatwave (2012)

California’s five-year drought extended through 2016 while new areas of extreme drought developed in states across the Northeast and Southeast. Agricultural impacts developed in the Northeast and Southeast due to stressed water supplies.

The 2012 drought is the most extensive drought to affect the U.S. since the 1930s. Moderate to extreme drought conditions affected more than half the country for the majority of 2012. The drought resulted in widespread harvest failure for corn, sorghum and soybean crops, among others.

$ 3 .6 B IL L IO N

$33 B I LLI O N

Western Drought (2015)

Southern Plains/Southwest Drought & Heat Wave (Spring–Summer 2011)

Drought conditions were present across numerous western states with the most severe conditions continuing to plague California for all of 2015. The agriculture sector was again impacted and wildfire conditions were further enhanced.

$ 4 .8 B IL L IO N Western Drought (2014)

Drought and heatwave conditions created major impacts across Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Kansas, and western Louisiana. In Texas and Oklahoma, a majority of range and pastures were classified in “very poor” condition for much of the 2011 crop growing season.

$14. 6 B I LLI O N

Historic drought conditions affected California for all of 2014 making it the worst drought on record for the state.

Surrounding states and parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas also experienced continued severe drought conditions.

$ 4 .2 B IL L IO N Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2018). https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions

In response to unprecedented drought conditions in the summer of 2016, Massachusetts announced the launch of the Massachusetts Drought Emergency Loan Fund, which had the capacity to provide up to $1 million in microloans of $5,000 to $10,000 to family farms and other small businesses affected by the drought. “Farms around the commonwealth are a vital part of our state’s economy, and continue to ensure residents have access to healthy, locally-grown culinary products,” said Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux in a press release last year. “The Massachusetts

Drought Emergency Loan Fund will allow Massachusetts’ farmers to seek financial relief during this period of prolonged dry weather as they continue to offer fresh, nutritious products to consumers.”

The fund was administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation, the state’s economic development agency, which ran the program through the end of 2016. Coupled with low-interest emergency loans provided by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Massachusetts’ Drought Loan Fund helped ease the adverse effects caused by the drought.

Last year, New Hampshire approved $2 million in relief for drought-stricken dairy farmers. This was a one-time offset to mitigate the impacts of two years of drought on the state’s dairy farmers, which cost the New Hampshire economy $225 million in loss.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

spread nature of our extreme drought has exacerbated costs for North Dakota ranchers who now must go hundreds of miles to supplement their own depleted hay supplies. The emergency assistance approved today will provide a real measure of relief by lowering the cost barrier between strained livestock producers and faraway hay stocks.”

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discovering rural america

Unpacking Food Labels

by Shawntaye Hopkins

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Many Americans want to know whether or not a product is safe to eat or nutritious. However, the food labels designed to help people make those decisions can be confusing. The federal government and state governments regulate many labels, including the sometimes-ambiguous dates found on packages. Some labels are mandatory, many are voluntary and others are marketing tactics.

30

food labels

FDA & USDA

Dates

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

USE BY

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, work together to oversee the nation’s food supply. The USDA oversees the safety of most meat, poultry, catfish and egg products while the FDA has authority over other foods, including dairy, seafood, produce and packaged foods. Earlier this year, the USDA and FDA announced an agreement “to increase interagency collaboration, efficiency and effectiveness on produce safety and biotechnology activities, while providing clarity to manufacturers,” according to an FDA press release dated Jan. 30, 2018.

NUTRITION FACT LABELS & SERVING SIZES The FDA extended a deadline for manufacturers to comply with new rules for nutrition fact labels and serving sizes to Jan. 1, 2020, for manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual food sales. According to the FDA, new nutrition fact labels will take updated scientific information into account, including the link between diet and chronic diseases.

New labels will make it easier for consumers to make better food choices by adding a declaration of “added sugars,” for example, as well as an updated list of vitamins and minerals of public health significance.

The final rule about serving size updates requirements to more accurately reflect what people actually eat and drink.

This is the last date recommended for the use of a product at peak quality. A “use-by” date is not an indication of food safety unless the product is infant formula, according to federal regulations.

SELL BY This date tells the store how long to display a product for sale. A “sell-by” or “expiration” date may be required on eggs in some states.

Egg cartons with the USDA grade shield must include a “pack date,” which is the day the eggs were washed, graded and placed in the carton. If eggs with the USDA grade shield also have a “sell-by” date, that date must not exceed 30 days from the date the eggs were packed.

BEST IF USED BY/BEFORE This indicates when a product will be of the best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

Other labels & terms ORGANIC CERTIFICATION An “organic” claim on the front of a product or the USDA Organic seal means the product meets the following requirements: produced without excluded methods such as genetic engineering, ionizing radiation or sewage sludge; produced using allowed substances; overseen by a UDSA National Organic Program-authorized certifying agency, following all USDA organic regulations.

100% ORGANIC This is a product that contains 100 percent organic ingredients. Most raw, unprocessed farm products can be designated 100 percent organic as well as many value-added farm products with no added ingredients, such as grain flours and rolled oats.

ORGANIC

MADE WITH ORGANIC INGREDIENTS At least 70 percent of a product making this claim must be organically produced ingredients. However, there are several constraints regarding the nonorganic ingredients.

SPECIFIC INGREDIENT LISTINGS Products containing less than 70 percent organic contents may list specific organic ingredients in its list of ingredients. However, the product must not include the USDA Organic seal or the word “organic” on the front of the package, also known as the principal display panel.

Unlike “organic,” few rules exist for this term. Natural means nothing artificial or synthetic has been included in, or added to, a food that would not normally be expected in the food. But the definition is not intended to address methods of food production, food processing or manufacturing.

GMO The term means genetically modified organism. According to the FDA, foods from genetically engineered plants must meet the same food safety requirements as foods from traditionally bred plants.

Developers genetically engineer plants for many reasons such as creating a plant with better flavor, higher crop yield, greater resistance to insect damage or better immunity to plant diseases. The USDA recently proposed new guidelines that would require use of GMO labels, starting in 2020. GMO labels are currently voluntary, but “No GMO” is often used as a marketing tactic.

MULTIGRAIN/WHOLE GRAIN These are not interchangeable terms, and the key is to check the list of ingredients. Whole grain means all parts of the grain kernel are used.

Multigrain means that a product contains more than one type of grain but not necessarily any whole grains.

FREE RANGE/FREE ROAMING Producers must demonstrate that poultry has been allowed access to the outside.

Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Mayo Clinic

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

This is a product that contains a minimum of 95 percent organic ingredients. Up to 5 percent of the product may be nonorganic agricultural products that are not commercially available as organic and/or nonagricultural products on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.

NATURAL

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discovering rural america

Retooling a Rural

Workforce

by Lisa McKinney

WHEN 49-YEAR-OLD ROBERT TORGERSON HEARD ABOUT THE DES MOINES AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

WORKFORCE TRAINING ACADEMY, HE WAS ATTEMPTING

32

TO REBUILD HIS LIFE AFTER BECOMING HOMELESS. “I WORKED IN CONSTRUCTION FOR DECADES AFTER A DIVORCE,” SAID TORGERSON, IN A TESTIMONIAL FOR THE

SCHOOL’S MARKETING MATERIALS. “I JUST COULD NOT MAKE IT. I WAS BROKE EVERY YEAR, THINKING NEXT YEAR

I’M GOING TO GET IT DONE. I ENDED UP HOMELESS.”

Torgerson said trying to live on eight to 10 dollars per hour puts you “right at the edge.”

“Something happens like you get behind on child support, and then the freight train starts. It takes six months, eight months and then you’re homeless,” he said.

Torgerson worked through his personal issues with the help of a local rescue mission and enrolled in the Des Moines Area Community College, or DMACC, Workforce Training Academy’s truck driving course. After the 12-week program, Torgerson got a stable job driving a semitractor-trailer with a starting salary of $40,000.

“Driving companies recruit right out of the training center,” he said. “They come to you. I believe their placement rate is darn near 100 percent. … I paid off my child support on my birthday a year and a half ago. I have money in the bank, no debt, no credit cards, now all that’s left for me to do is buy a house.

My spirit has changed.”

In Iowa, Des Moines Area Community College is considered a leader in workforce development and worker retraining and its programs are often cited by experts as an example of doing workforce retraining right.

retraining programs

THE

SKILLS GAP

53

PERCENT

OF LABOR MARKET

OPPORTUNITIES ARE MIDDLE-SKILL JOBS WHICH REQUIRE MORE THAN & LESS THAN

HIGH SCHOOL

DIPLOMA BACHELOR’S

DEGREE

IN INDUSTRIES SUCH AS COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY HEALTH CARE CONSTRUCTION HIGH-SKILL MANUFACTURING

To ensure their students are getting skills that are in high demand by local employers, and make connections that help their students secure jobs after graduation, DMACC works closely with the private sector, a practice that policy experts cite as the key to creating and executing a successful program.

“We communicate and collaborate with business and industry,” said Michael Hoffman, DMACC’s executive director of continuing education. “We reach out to employers and we determine what new programs we need to create based on the skill sets they are looking for and we have industry reaching out all the time about areas of need that they have. We typically work with them and develop the curriculum and create something very quickly so we can fill the skills gap that exists.

When we see that there isn’t a demand we stop offering those courses because we don’t want someone to go through training if there isn’t going to be a job at the end of it.” continued on next page »

BUT ONLY

43

PERCENT

OF MIDDLE-SKILL

WORKERS ARE

SUFFICIENTLY

TRAINED Sources: Ball State University, The Manufacturing Institute, Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, The National Skills Coalition, McKinsey Global Institute, Pew Research Center.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

The purpose of workforce retraining is to close the skills gaps felt by local business while helping workers who have been shut out of industries that are dying, automating or being sent offshore to start second careers in in-demand industries.

It is a concept that is hard to execute well for many reasons. Laid-off workers don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to retraining and often have families to support. There may be an “identity mismatch” to overcome—workers who’ve spent their whole lives in a factory may not be able to imagine themselves working in health care, for example. It may be decades since they’ve last stepped foot in a classroom. The maze of worker retraining programs in any given state can be hard to navigate. Retraining programs have to be incredibly nimble and adapt to the ever-changing needs of industry while supporting nontraditional students and the additional challenges they may face.

33

discovering rural america « continued from previous page

Because DMACC provides non-credit, short-term training, it can quickly adapt to employers’ changing needs. This adaptability, paired with close relationships with industry leaders, is essential to a fruitful workforce development program, according to Emily DeRocco, a fellow in the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program who focuses on education, workforce and economic development. “(Workforce retraining) is a job that requires public-private partnerships; they are a key to the success of a workforce development program in many respects,” she said. “There are important roles for the private sector—for employers and business and industry—but also for government at all levels as well as an array of other stakeholders, including philanthropies and community-­ based organizations.”

One of the challenges workforce retraining programs face is getting business to take on the leadership role and identifying the industry leaders they need to bring to the table. “(Industry leaders) believe, rightfully so, that preparing and educating a skilled workforce

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR MAKING SURE

for this country is in large measure the job of our education and workforce development systems,” said DeRocco. “Telling them that those systems don’t always do it very well and they have to assume responsibility isn’t a

“(Industry leaders) believe, rightfully so, that preparing and educating a skilled workforce for this country is in large measure the job of our education and workforce development systems. »Emily DeRocco, fellow in the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program

good enough answer. It is becoming less of a challenge though because the skills gap has created such a pain among our businesses and pain is a great motivator.”

DeRocco is critical of federally funded workforce development programs—not because they are not needed or that government doesn’t have a role in workforce development—but because our publicly-funded workforce development programs and initiatives have not always kept pace with the very dramatic changes in workforce requirements.

“They are not in large measure aligned to the economic vision of communities, regional economies and states,” she said, which is why states and localities, who are able to be more nimble and adaptive, should take the lead in working with local and regional industry to develop training programs to meet business needs.

Once the retraining curriculum is designed, administrators face the challenge of tailoring programs to nontraditional students who often work multiple part-time jobs and have children at home, among other obstacles.

72%

THE INDIVIDUAL

THE WORKFORCE

IS PREPARED

60%

PUBLIC K–12 SCHOOLS

FOR TODAY’S ECONOMY?

52%

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

49%

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

EMPLOYERS

34

In a 2016 Pew Research Center Survey, in association with the Markle Foundation, respondents classified these given groups as having “a lot of” responsibility for making sure the American workforce has the right skills and education to be successful in today’s economy.

Source: Pew Research Center, http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/ 2017/08/25/most-americans-say-k-12-schools-have-a-lot-of-responsi bility-in-workforce-preparation/.

STATE GOVERNMENTS

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

40% 30%

retraining programs DMACC helps students overcome those challenges by providing “pathway navigators” that work with students on any of their challenges or needs.

“We provide a lot of wraparound services and have funds to meet those needs,” said Hoffman. “For example, if somebody has a transportation issue, we can help pay for a taxi or give them a gas card or arrange for them to commute with other students in the class. We try to make sure that if there are any external barriers to them being successful in the program, we are addressing those as well. A lot of students can’t just quit what they are doing to go to school.”

The Workforce Training Academy focuses on short-term certificate training programs; some programs allow students to earn a certificate in a semester or less. They are accelerated classes, often held in the evening, so students can work during the day. All of the short-term certificate programs are tied into credit programs so there is a career pathway for students if they want to continue their education.

DMACC’s program also has a required 17.5 hour prerequisite class where students discuss teamwork, career development, and the details of the industry they are pursuing a job in, and have an opportunity to become comfortable in the

By 2030, as many as 375 million workers— about 14 percent of the global workforce— may need to switch occupational categories as technology disrupts the way we work.

classroom and get to know their cohort before moving on to the technical training. Students must have a 100 percent attendance record in the prerequisite class before they can enroll in a technical training program and receive tuition assistance. Nearly every student that goes through the academy receives tuition assistance.

The completion rate for the Workforce Training Academy’s technical programs is typically between 85 and 90 percent.

In addition to the technical training, students complete career readiness classes, specific to the industry they are going through training for, that end in mock interviews with people from their industry. Students that impress their mock interviewers are sometimes invited to apply for jobs at their interviewers’ company.

The program is 100 percent state-funded through Iowa’s Pathways for Academic Career and Employment, or PACE, Program, and the Gap Tuition Assistance Program.

“All this can’t happen unless we get the support from the Iowa legislators who fund the program,” said Hoffman.

BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL

WORKFORCE

1

Look at workforce development through an economic development lens. Start with an economic development vision and strategy.

2

Work from the regional or local level to meet the business needs in the area the program is serving.

3

Identify the legacy industries, emerging industries and aspirational industries in the area served.

4

Pursue asset mapping of your educational and workforce resources— where are they and what are they doing?

5

Perform a good supply, demand and gap analysis. What are the industry demands for competencies, skills, and abilities and what training and educational opportunities are available? Is there a gap?

6

Bring community-based organizations, social service support organizations and philanthropies that may bring additional resources around your initiative to the table.

DEVELOPMENT

PROGRAM

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Emily DeRocco, a fellow in the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program who focuses on education, workforce and economic development, suggests some guidelines for creating a workforce retraining program that works.

35

rural/agriculture

AGRICULTURE IN AMERICA

OF DOTHAN, ALABAMA

Farmers in most of the United States grow a lot of commodity crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton, which have many uses beyond food for humans. Commodity crops are the top earning crops in 42 states.

HAY soybeans 17 STATES

9 STATES

cotton CORN 13 STATES

G E O R G I A i s kn own a s the

PEACH CAPITOL

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

of the Un i ted States

36

BUT CALIFORNIA ACTUALLY PRODUCES 55 TIMES more peaches than Georgia

ABOUT

25%

produced in the U.S. are grown within a

100-MILE RADIUS

by Lisa McKinney

3 STATES

almost half of the peanuts

of U.S. farm products by value are exported each year.

FA R M E R S AND RANCHERS R E C E I V E O N LY

15

CENTS OUT OF

EVERY $1 SPENT ON FOOD

99% OF FAR MS A R E O P E R AT E D B Y FA M I L I E S AND ACCOUNT FOR 90% OF PRODUCTION AND LAND OPERATED

WO M E N MAKE UP 30% of the total number of U.S. farm operators

agriculture in america

Today, each U.S. farmer produces food and fiber for

165 PEOPLE I N T H E U N I TED STATES AN D A B ROAD

MICHIGAN IS #1 IN THE NATION FOR

PICKLING CUCUMBER PRODUCTION

Of the top five crops grown in America today—corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa and grain sorghum—only corn is native to America.

TOTA L U . S .

CORN YIELD ABOUT

8%

(tons per acre)

OF U.S. FARMS MARKET FOODS LOCALLY,

HAS INCREASED

through direct-to-consumer or intermediated sales

MORE THAN 360% SINCE 1950

TOP CROPS

In many states, the top crop by yield and dollar value are commodity crops used to feed livestock or for sale on the commodity market, as opposed to direct sale or consumption. We ranked the top produce crop, primarily used for human consumption, by dollar value in each state.*

APPLES Connecticut, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota (Honeycrisp), New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, West Virginia TOMATOES Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia PEANUTS Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas SWEET POTATOES Mississippi, North Carolina

PUMPKINS Illinois CHERRIES Utah

WATERMELON Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri DRY, EDIBLE BEANS Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming

TABASCO PEPPERS Louisiana LETTUCE Arizona MACADAMIA NUTS Hawaii

CHILI PEPPERS New Mexico

RICE Arkansas

BLUEBERRIES Maine GRAPES California

MUSHROOMS Pennsylvania PEAS South Dakota

PEACHES South Carolina PEARS Oregon ORANGES Florida MAPLE SYRUP Vermont

* Based on available data from the USDA. The dollar value for every crop grown in every state was not available.

Sources: www.ers.usda.gov/faqs/#Q1, www.nass.usda.gov, cropwatch.unl.edu/cropwatch-youth/facts, www.fb.org/newsroom/fast-facts, cropinsuranceinamerica.org/, America’s Diverse Family Farms 2017, USDA.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

CRANBERRIES Massachusetts

POTATOES Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, Washington, Wisconsin

37

discovering rural america

Rebuilding MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

RURAL AMERICA

38

rebuilding rural america

by Sean Slone

According to the 2010 Census, Maine is the most rural, least urbanized state in the country. More than 61 percent of the state’s population lives in rural areas. With a population of just over 1.3 million spread out over 35,385 square miles, that can make providing for the state’s infrastructure challenging.

“The challenge of funding is far greater because the population centers are farther apart, forcing the state to stretch the dollar further and further,” said state Rep. Andrew McLean, who chairs the Transportation Committee in the Maine House. “Maine is three times the size of New Hampshire, but we have the same population. The economies of scale do not exist in large, rural states that exist in smaller or more populated states. This makes it more expensive to keep up with maintaining our infrastructure.”

McLean, who also serves as chairman of the CSG Transportation and Infrastructure Public Policy Committee, said much of the funding goes to fixing and preserving roads and bridges that are high-use or located in urban centers like the district he represents near Portland, leaving few dollars to fix more rural roads.

“It creates a widening gap between what the urban centers have and what the rural areas have in terms of quality and safety of infrastructure,” he said. “This problem will become exacerbated as we continue to underfund our transportation system.”

“It largely misses the point: we are simply not spending enough money on our infrastructure,” McLean said. “We can’t finance our way out of this problem; we need to fund the fixes we have to make.”

McLean believes that the public-private partnerships emphasized in the president’s plan will have only limited utility for small, rural states. But he said something else could be ripe for expansion in Maine. “(Tolling) is a direct user fee and goes directly into our infrastructure,” he said. “Tolling in Maine has worked since the Maine Turnpike was constructed in 1948 and it shows that when appropriate funding is allocated to maintain a road and bridge system, the quality and safety of the road is apparent.” continued on next page »

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

While the lawmaker sees some promise in President Donald Trump’s infrastructure proposal as laid out earlier this year, he remains concerned that it wouldn’t do enough to benefit states like Maine.

39

discovering rural america

« continued from previous page

Iowa Decides Against Tolling Iowa, the nation’s 12th least urbanized state, is making a different call when it comes to tolling, at least for now. After a recent Iowa Department of Transportation study found that adding tolls could help the state finance the widening and reconstruction of a nearly 250-mile-long rural stretch of Interstate 80, a number of state officials—including Iowa Director of Transportation Mark Lowe—were quick to come forward and hit the brakes on that idea, contending Iowa’s farm-to-market system could not support it.

“We were going to push interstate traffic into non-interstate corridors and were really going to overload parts of the system that really aren’t designed for that,” Lowe said.

“The other part that really weighs heavily on us is pushing us out of a pay-as-you-go system. …We’ve been able to make sure that the revenues we do bring in are dedicated to actual infrastructure projects and not going to debt servicing.”

Still, Lowe said that doesn’t mean Iowa is closing the door on tolling forever.

“I could never say never,” he said. “One of the key factors is really what happens with federal infrastructure funding and is there a significant change on federal policy on tolling. … If there was a comprehensive shift in the way that we fund the interstate system that looks at tolling consistently across broad segments of it rather than just in a patchwork way, then I think we’d have to reconsider that.”

But in talks with the administration, Lowe said his agency has emphasized that the infrastructure needs of states like Iowa won’t be met fully either by tolling or by private investment. And while the president’s proposal also included $50 billion in block grants to states for rural infrastructure, that won’t be enough to get the job done.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

“I think it would definitely be beneficial if it is also aligned with solving the Highway Trust Fund,” he said. “If you try to rely just on that infrastructure package … it’s not going to be sufficient.”

40

Rural America’s Infrastructure Needs Joe McKinney, executive director of the National Association of Development Organizations, or NADO, agrees that ensuring the future solvency and sustainability of the Highway Trust Fund would be an ideal place to start when it comes to ensuring the future of rural communities served by some of the 540 regional planning and development organizations NADO represents.

“The federal-aid highway system provides the backbone of project funding for rural states and communities,” McKinney said. “Formulas that determine states’ allocations are largely reliable if the Highway Trust Fund remains solvent. Long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund is in jeopardy however (beyond 2020). … We are going to face

rebuilding rural america

a crisis with the Highway Trust Fund in the next few years. You can make the argument that shoring it up should be the priority.”

Outside of formula funding from the Highway Trust Fund to tackle transportation projects, rural states can also benefit from a variety of other federal programs. One of those has been the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, program, an Obamaera competitive grant program popular with many state officials around the country but targeted for elimination by President Trump.

McKinney said TIGER got a rural-centric makeover this year.

“This last round of TIGER awards did include a larger share for rural projects than past rounds,” McKinney said. “The requirement is 20 percent for projects in rural areas. In the past, awards kept close to that rural share minimum. This year’s award increased that percentage dramatically to 64 percent.”

In April, less than a month after the latest TIGER grants were awarded, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that a new discretionary grant program with an even bigger rural focus would take the place of TIGER. The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD, program would award at least 30 percent of funds to rural projects and expand eligibility beyond surface transportation to areas like rural broadband.

Rural America’s infrastructure needs extend far beyond roads and bridges. McKinney points to the inland waterway system as an area in need of reinvestment.

Drinking water is another significant infrastructure challenge in some rural communities. The Los Angeles Times reported earlier this year on Martin County, Kentucky, a former coal mining community that regularly suffers water outages and boil-water advisories. Residents often receive notifications that the water contains high levels of disinfectant byproducts that could increase their risk of health problems.

“For years the water district here has been losing more than 50 percent of its treated water to aging, leaky pipes—which can also allow untreated groundwater to seep in,” the newspaper reported. “Experts say it is unlikely the federal government will invest in rebuilding the kind of infrastructure that has become a public health hazard in impoverished, out-of-the-way communities like Martin County.”

Kentucky coal country is one area that stands to benefit if a public-private partnership to enhance another infrastructure category—broadband—is successful. But the project, dubbed KentuckyWired, has suffered delays in securing agreements with owners of telephone poles and properties where fiber optic wires need to be installed. It took until the last day of the legislative session in April for Kentucky lawmakers to agree to borrow $110 million to pay private partners to cover the

»State Rep. Andrew McLean, Maine

delays. The network is now slated to be operational in 2020. Lawmakers have called for an investigation into the contract between the state and private partners.

Elsewhere, some cities and towns in North Carolina are pushing state lawmakers to approve laws to make it clear that local governments can enter into P3s to facilitate the expansion of high-speed internet in that state. Colorado lawmakers this year agreed to spend more than $100 million to extend high-speed internet to rural parts of the state. And Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed legislation last year to provide $45 million in grants and tax credits to co-ops and internet service providers to encourage the development of internet in areas that don’t have it.

In Maine, the rural, sparsely populated communities of Calais and Baileyville this year announced the formation of a nonprofit broadband utility that will allow them to put money toward getting faster internet speeds than most of the state.

McLean, the Maine lawmaker, said initiatives like that are part of a recognition that broadband is critical to a 21st century economy.

“Many efforts are underway to get broadband out to farms, and small towns across the state (which) are looking to advertise their products to the nation and the world,” he said. “Rural economies, whose focus used to be limited to a small radius can now, with the help of broadband, get their products and services out to the world, allowing someone to stay where they want to live but still make a living.”

But it’s clear that an investment in all types of rural infrastructure will be needed to help rural communities build a brighter future.

“Transportation facilities, infrastructure, and services are critical to supporting key factors for economic growth: creating jobs, improving access to employment, education and essential services, and to advancing the quality of life in communities,” said McKinney, the NADO executive director.

MAY/JUNE 2018 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Broadband Key to Rural Economic Development

Many efforts are underway to get broadband out to farms, and small towns across the state (which) are looking to advertise their products to the nation and the world.”

41

discovering rural america

A Leader

IN THE FIELD

by Courtney Daniel

Q&A with SEN. CAROLYN McGINN KANSAS STATE SEN. CAROLYN McGINN has served in the Legislature since 2005. There she has worked to balance rural and urban needs, and advocate for transparency in budgeting and campaign finance.

But outside of her legislative duties, she also operates a

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family farm with her husband, Mark, close to the town

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You are a state leader and a family farm operator. How are the two roles different or the same?

“Both require a lot of focus and dedication, and both are driven by passion to do what is best in our business and for the state of Kansas. In our business, decision-making is more independent and based in long-term goals.

In the Legislature, making decisions is part of a process that builds relationship coalitions with colleagues that have diverse constituencies.”

of Sedgwick, Kansas. The McGinns farm irrigated corn, soybeans and dryland wheat. They also have a small vineyard and raise Katahdin sheep and sell eggs to their local market. The McGinn family has been farming for five generations in their community. Sen. McGinn is chair of the Kansas Senate Ways and Means Committee and was a CSG 2010 Henry Toll Fellow.

How has farming changed since you began to today?

“There is now better technology, but fewer farmers. When my husband and I were starting out, agriculture was at the eve of the 1980s farm crisis. While I always complained about the challenges of used equipment, being frugal was how we survived. Today, technological advances now drive tractors through the field and satellites give precision rain data information. Efficient irrigation pivots with low pressure nozzles help conserve our most precious natural resource, water.”

farming & legislating

Most legislative sessions are in the early part of the year, with growing season in the summer and harvesting later in the year. How do you manage the rigorous schedule?

“It is not easy and can be stressful at times. To add to that, last fall we built a high tunnel that can produce certain garden vegetable crops year-round.

We also raise Katahdin sheep and lambs in April. It all gets done, but all family members and some outside help is usually required. This responsibility back home is helpful to my focus in the 90-day Legislature. Every day is very valuable in the process as we get closer to the finish line. Having an occupation that is tied to the seasons keeps you on-task and focused.”

What legislation have you worked on that supports farmers and agriculture?

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“As past Natural Resource chair and current Ways and Means chair, I have made water quality and quantity legislation a priority. My region of the state has to work together with agriculture, municipality, industrial and environmental stakeholders for our water needs. While quality was the main focus for the past 15 years and is still important, quantity issues are becoming a priority, particularly in the Ogallala Aquifer. I was involved in the conservation reserve enhancement program, helping farmers to transition from irrigation to dryland crops if they so desired. Today, we are looking at local enhanced management areas, which allow farmers to decrease water use through low pressure water systems and is regionally focused. This past year, we passed hemp legislation that would allow experimentation and research to market it as an alternative crop in moisture deprived areas of our state.”

GENERATIONS OF McGINNS HAVE FARMED

SEN. McGINN & HER HUSBAND, MARK OPERATE THE FAMILY FARM & GROW

How has farming helped you be a better leader in your state?

“Having a personal stake in one of our state’s major industries helps you to look at how long-term investments can have an impact on the success of your communities and state. I am always looking for the balance to help legislators take something home at the end of session so they can share what they did to help their constituents.”

IRRIGATED CORN

SOYBEANS

THEY ALSO RAISE

KATAHDIN

SHEEP

DRYLAND WHEAT

“We value the land we work with and take excellent care of the animals we raise. Those involved in family farms are very blessed because they are in tune with how our environment is critically important to the success of our business as well as the long-term sustainability for our future generations. I often hear people involved in sports in their early years say that discipline and stamina helped them do the work they do today. In agriculture, there are so many practical applications that help you work through difficult situations. Patience is the key and when plan A does not work, you always have to think ahead about the potential of plan B and sometimes plan C.”

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What is one thing you want people to know about farming?

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discovering rural america

Attempt to Bridge the Digital Divide

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by Shawntaye Hopkins

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10%

39%

32.6%

One in 10 rural libraries reported that internet speeds rarely meet patron needs.

39% of rural residents lack access to FCC home broadband standards.

32.6% of rural libraries have a fiber optic broadband connection, and 62.3% of their urban counterparts have this connection.

Source: American Library Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rural Libraries in the United States: Recent Strides, Future Possibilities, and Meeting Community Needs

digital divide

What About Underserved Tribal Libraries?

During National Library Week in April, the American Library Association, or ALA, hosted a panel of tribal librarians and rural telecom experts who advocated for leveraging the federal E-rate program to improve broadband access on rural tribal lands. The E-rate program is administered by the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, and helps public libraries and K-12 schools obtain affordable broadband.

“Despite all of the E-rate program’s successes, nationally, in closing the digital divide, the program’s current application process and the eligibility requirements do not reflect the unique infrastructure challenges and needs in Indian country, and that has made it difficult for many tribes to access its benefits and funding support,” said United States Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico.

Public libraries have always been more than buildings where patrons borrow books, and now some libraries are stepping up to provide high-speed internet access to residents, students and business owners in rural areas where options are limited.

The majority of libraries in the United States are rural or small libraries, said Marijke Visser, associate director of public policy in the American Library Association’s Washington, D.C., office.

“In rural areas, they are often the only place where there is free access. So, that’s a huge thing that libraries are doing,” Visser said.

As access to affordable, high-capacity broadband in rural homes improves, but still lags behind home access in urban areas, rural libraries have to find creative ways to keep up with libraries in more populous areas in order to serve their communities.

People use library computers or take their own laptops or tablets to the library for a number of reasons—completing schoolwork, filing taxes, banking online—and libraries can also serve as innovation hubs.

Heinrich, a Democrat, and U.S. Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada, a Republican, introduced the Tribal Connect Act in December 2017. If it passes, the bill would expand tribal lands’ eligibility to participate in the E-rate program.

Heinrich said the bipartisan Tribal Connect Act would steer much-needed federal investments to close the digital divide in rural, tribal communities.

“Clearly, tribal and rural areas have the greatest need for improved broadband connectivity,” ALA President Jim Neal said. “Libraries are poised to fill this need now, and expanding access to the E-rate program is an important start.”

In closing remarks, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn noted that she’s the daughter of a retired librarian and her family’s address was a rural route.

“Broadband investment is critical infrastructure investment, which is increasingly determining which city, county, town or tribal nation thrives or not,” Clyburn said.

Small business owners without adequate internet access at home depend on libraries for tasks such as creating websites, downloading and uploading client information, and videoconferencing. In addition, rural libraries have begun to look at opportunities to connect rural patrons to telehealth, which allows people to visit a doctor via phone and video.

A program known as E-rate helps public libraries and K-12 schools obtain affordable broadband. The program, adminis continued on next page »

United States Sen. Martin Heinrich, New Mexico

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn

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“The other thing that rural libraries are doing is really thinking about their role in workforce development and entrepreneurship, which I think is particularly relevant for rural areas,” she said.

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discovering rural america

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« continued from previous page

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tered by the Universal Service Administrative Company under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, has been around for 20 years but modernized about two years ago to focus more on highspeed internet support over phone and voice services. The American Library Association, or ALA, has worked with state library agencies over the last two years to help small and rural libraries get the most out of the modernized program and upgrade their broadband access.

There are a few obstacles that rural libraries might face when applying for the program, including limited library staff. But one issue, lack of competition among broadband providers in rural areas, is an obstacle that states might be able to help address. States can help by looking at creative options to ensure pro-

viders are servicing remote and rural areas, Visser said.

“There’s no significant competition in those areas, so they don’t have a lot of options that are affordable in those instances,” she said. “I think that the lack of competition in rural areas is something that the states may have a role in improving.”

Kieran Hixon, the 2017-2018 president of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, said states have to get behind the push for infrastructure. He said broadband should be considered a vital utility, like water and power.

“When we talk about broadband, it’s one of the biggest challenges that faces rural libraries right now, and it’s not that we don’t want it, it’s just that we can’t get it. It’s literally not available,” Hixon said.

In addition, there must be options for people who can’t afford internet, and that’s why public libraries are important.

“What I want for my niece is to be able to be part of the workforce and a contributing member of the community and our state and our country,” Hixon said. “She’s not going to do that if she never sees the internet.”

Visser praised Maine, the most rural state in the country, as one state that has creatively addressed broadband access.

The Maine School and Library Network, which provides internet access, email, web hosting and other internet-related services to schools and libraries across the state, was created in the mid-1990s from a $20 million settlement in a rate case. After the money dwindled, the state decided to leverage E-rate funding “but

digital divide

Right now, the schools and libraries have awesome connections, but many rural residents still don’t have a connection or can’t get highspeed connections. So, it’s kind of a weird existence here in Maine.” » Janet McKenney, Maine State Library

also start kind of its own state E-rate,” said Janet McKenney, director of library development for the Maine State Library.

The Maine Telecommunications Education Access Fund was born. School and library internet connections are funded with both state and federal funds.

Speed of Service

McKenney said the next step in Maine is to help more residents get high-speed internet access in their homes.

“Right now, the schools and libraries have awesome connections, but many rural residents still don’t have a connection or can’t get high-speed connections,” she said. “So it’s kind of a weird existence here in Maine.”

Amber Gregory, the E-rate coordinator for the Arkansas State Library, helps public libraries with E-rate applications and other broadband support and tracks broadband issues across the state.

“I would say we’ve been very successful in increasing internet speeds in our rural libraries,” she said. “We have about an average of between 20 and 25 megabits per second in our rural libraries.”

14.9% 14.9% of rural libraries had download speeds of 1.5 megabits per second or less in 2014.

43% reported that this was the case in 2010.

Gregory said she expects broadband access in rural Arkansas will continue to improve, but there are still obstacles.

“We as a state need to continue to build out in those underserved areas because we still have areas where the cost to install those connections is so high it is cost-prohibitive,” Gregory said. “That is a challenge for everybody involved, both to the providers because it’s so costly to build out in these rural areas and anchor institutions that need those connections so badly, as well as anybody with home access.”

25 MBPS 25 megabits per second is the FCC’s home broadband standard for download.

3 megabits is the standard for upload speeds.

» Amber Gregory, Arkansas State Library

10 MBPS 10 megabits per second is the median speed at rural libraries.

100 megabits per second is the goal that the FCC has set for all libraries serving 50,000 people or less.

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We as a state need to continue to build out in those underserved areas because we still have areas where the cost to install those connections is so high it is cost-prohibitive.”

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final facts

I Pledge

Allegiance…

Washington is the only state with an image of a

Oregon is the

only state flag

(George Washington) on its flag.

with

by Shawntaye Hopkins On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed an act that established the official United States flag. Long before the birthday of the Stars and Stripes became an observed national holiday in 1949, U.S. presidents, state leaders and schoolteachers celebrated the flag on June 14. Here, we recognize Flag Day with a few facts about the U.S. flag and state flags.

U.S. PRESIDENT

different images on the

front and back.

Baltimore businesswoman Mary Young Pickersgill made the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the song that became the national anthem.

The 30-by-42-foot flag flew over Fort McHenry during the 1814 Battle of Baltimore.

Thirteen-year-old Benny Benson designed Alaska’s state flag, adopted in 1927.

New Mexico’s

Zia sun symbol appears on the state flag

Territorial Gov. George Parks thought a flag would help Alaska become a state and held a contest among Alaska children in grades 7–12.

and is also reflected in the

architectural design of the capitol building in Santa Fe.

The Ohio state flag has a swallowtail design.

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It is the only U.S. state flag that is not rectangular.

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Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, is often credited with making the

There have been

27 OFFICIAL VERSIONS of the U.S. flag.

The current version was established July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became the 50th state.

The original Pledge of Allegiance, written in 1892 by socialist minister Francis Bellamy, read: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

first American flag AT THE REQUEST OF GEORGE WASHINGTON IN 1776,

but little evidence exists to support this claim.

CSG 2018 Regional Annual Meetings For more information on our 2018 meetings, please visit the CSG 2018 events calendar at www.csg.org.

CSG 2018 MIDWEST CHAIR SEN. ED CHARBONNEAU INDIANA

CSG MIDWESTERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE JULY 15–18 WINNIPEG, MANITOBA www.csgmidwest.org

CSG 2018 SOUTH CHAIR SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE RON RICHARD MISSOURI

CSG SOUTHERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE JULY 21–25 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI www.slcatlanta.org

CSG EASTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE AUG. 5–8 RYE BROOK, NEW YORK CSG 2018 EAST CO-CHAIR ASSEMBLYMAN MIKE BENEDETTO NEW YORK

CSG 2018 EAST CO-CHAIR SEN. JAMES SEWARD NEW YORK

CSG 2018 WEST CHAIR SEN. STUART ADAMS UTAH

www.csg-erc.org

CSG WEST ANNUAL MEETING SEPT. 11–15 SNOWBIRD, UTAH www.csgwest.org

The Council of State Governments 1776 Avenue of the States Lexington, KY 40511

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