(5) provide a means for discussion and resolu-
tion of disputes between Federal agencies with re-
gard to programs that address the needs of rural 
areas in the United States; and 
(6) develop plans and strategies to address the 
needs of rural areas in the United States. 
(f) PUBLIC OUTREACH.—Not less frequently than 
twice annually, the Council shall hold public meetings in 
a rural community for the purpose of— 
(1) soliciting feedback from the public, units of 
local government, Indian Tribes, and dislocated 
workers on concerns relating to the social, economic, 
and community well-being and resilience of rural 
areas; and 
(2) soliciting recommendations on actions the 
departments, agencies, and offices represented on 
the Council may consider to support the economic 
development of rural communities. 
SEC. 4. RURAL PROSPERITY ACTION PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’), in coordina-
tion with the Under Secretary for Rural Development, 
shall develop a rural prosperity action plan (referred to 
in this section as the ‘‘action plan’’), which shall describe 
the actions to be carried out by the Secretary for the pur-
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poses of addressing the social, economic, and community 
well-being and resilience of rural areas in the United 
States by addressing unique structural challenges experi-
enced by rural communities. 
(b) COORDINATION.—Each activity carried out under 
this section shall be carried out in coordination with the 
Office of Rural Prosperity. 
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING.—The 
Secretary shall provide administrative support and fund-
ing in the development of the action plan, to the extent 
permitted by law and using appropriations available to the 
Secretary as of the date of enactment of this Act. 
(d) ACTIVITIES.—In developing the action plan, the 
Secretary shall— 
(1) examine each rural development activity 
carried out by the Secretary as of the date of enact-
ment of this Act; and 
(2) identify regulatory and policy changes that 
could be made by the Secretary that would accom-
plish the goals described in subsection (a), including 
changes that would— 
(A) remove barriers to economic prosperity 
and quality of life in rural areas of the United 
States; 
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(B) strengthen and expand educational op-
portunities for students in rural communities, 
particularly in agricultural education, science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics; 
(C) empower the State, local, and Tribal 
agencies that implement rural economic devel-
opment, agricultural, and environmental pro-
grams to tailor those programs to relevant re-
gional circumstances; 
(D) respect the unique circumstances of 
small businesses that serve rural communities 
and the unique business structures and regional 
diversity of farms and ranches; 
(E) ensure access to a reliable workforce 
and increase employment opportunities in rural- 
focused businesses, including agriculture; 
(F) promote the preservation of family 
farms as they are passed from generation to 
generation; 
(G) ensure that private property rights of 
water users are not encumbered when the water 
users attempt to secure permits to operate on 
Federal land; 
(H) improve food safety and ensure that 
regulations and policies implementing Federal 
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food safety laws are based on science and ac-
count for the unique circumstances of farms 
and ranches; 
(I) encourage the production, export, and 
use of domestically produced agricultural prod-
ucts; 
(J) further the energy security of the 
United States in the rural landscape; 
(K) address hurdles associated with access 
to resources on Federal land for rural commu-
nities that rely on cattle grazing, timber har-
vests, mining, recreation, and other multiple 
uses; 
(L) identify and facilitate rural economic 
opportunities associated with energy develop-
ment, outdoor recreation, and other conserva-
tion-related activities; and 
(M) coordinate and improve the effective-
ness of Federal engagement with rural stake-
holders, including agricultural organizations, 
small businesses, education and training institu-
tions, health care providers, telecommunications 
services providers, research and land-grant in-
stitutions, law enforcement, State, local, and 
Tribal governments, and nongovernmental orga-
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