Tom Vilsack Quotes

Perhaps never in the history of a nation founded by agrarian self-starters has the federal government propped up rural America to such a degree.

And sometimes people don't realize that 90 percent of the persistent poverty counties are located in rural America.

There is more potential for economic growth in rural America than at any time in decades.

All the real things in Russia are done in the villages.

Prosperous farmers mean more employment, more prosperity for the workers and the business men of every industrial area in the whole country.

If you take any populated place - any major city in America - and drive 45 minutes from that spot directly out of town you'll be in about as country a place as you'll ever find.

It's hard to believe President George Bush gave a speech in New Orleans about disaster recovery and failed to mention the word 'farm' or the word 'rural.'

You talk to the farmers, the ranchers, our small community bankers, and boy, one of the No. 1 issues is the regulations coming out of Washington.

The REA [Rural Electrification Administration] brought us electric lights when no one else would.

In many parts of our country, geography and population density can make it difficult to attract private investment. These communities depend on federal investments to maintain and upgrade their transportation systems and stay competitive. And we know that it's an investment worth making. Because when rural America succeeds, we all do.

A bright future for the nation depends on the health and prosperity of rural America.

Dust is part of rural America. It is completely unreasonable for the EPA to put a price tag on communities for carrying out activities essential to their well-being. This is a prime example of federal regulations gone too far.

I will always be a relentless advocate for our farmers, producers, and our way of life.

The [Democratic] party's become an urban party, and they don't get rural America. They don't get agriculture.

My vision for the country is to urbanise rural areas. What is available in the cities must be available in the villages.

I wish every international or national corporate would be given a rule to set up companies in rural areas, where they would have to provide hospitals, schools, low-cost housing and free medical care, training, and then employment - but not on agricultural land.

The back roads of America are so important.

I think the sensibilities of having grown up in Upstate New York and the concerns, the fears, the hopes of the people there are reflected all over the country.

Our rural communities are the heart of Maine, and we must invest in them - building our energy infrastructure, expanding access to broadband, and most importantly, making sure every single person has access to the health care they need.

One key question for the United States in the 21st century is whether noncoastal towns and rural communities, including many communities of color, will be able to participate in the digital revolution.

I believe in Jai Jawan Jai Kisan - a country where the farmer is unhappy is on its path towards destruction.

USDA Rural Development is responsible for helping rural counties and small communities provide public services and foster economic growth. Often these investments help fill gaps that are hard to overcome with a rural tax base.

We need to transform our rural areas, restore the land to its rightful owners, and significantly grow our agricultural output.

And in rural communities we've worked alongside, Haitians are doing far more than merely recovering from the earthquake. Many are creating long-term sustainable change.

We are neither anti-urban nor pro-rural. We know there is a gap between urban and rural areas; we are only trying to bridge it.