Kelley joins Iowa House rural Caucus

DES MOINES — State Representative Dan Kelley of Newton will serve on the House Rural Caucus for the 2015 legislative session.

“A vibrant ag economy is critical to a strong economy and creating jobs in communities across Iowa. Adding value to the crops for farmers through industries like renewable energy will give our local economy a boost and protect our natural resources,” Kelley said.

The Rural Caucus was created because House Democrats recognized the importance of Iowa’s rural economy and wanted to give legislators an opportunity to work together on issues like boosting rural job creation, meeting Iowa’s rural infrastructure needs, guaranteeing adequate resources for rural schools, and addressing poverty in rural Iowa.

“Over the last 50 years, many rural communities have experienced a significant decline in population. We must all work together to repopulate those areas, while capitalizing on the strengths of rural communities to create good jobs and improve the quality of life,” Kelley said.

The Rural Caucus meets every week to review proposed legislation, hear from various speakers and discuss impending issues that may affect rural Iowa.