Brookings and AEI launch bipartisan commission on US rural prosperity

Washington, D.C. — The Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) are proud to announce the launch of America’s Rural Future, a bipartisan commission to develop pragmatic, long-term solutions that advance economic opportunity, resilience, and quality of life across rural America. The commission will be co-chaired by former Republican Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire and former Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota. 

America’s Rural Future will be supported by Tony Pipa, senior fellow at the Center for Sustainable Development, within the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings, and Brent Orrell, senior fellow at AEI. The initiative reflects a shared recognition that rural communities—home to nearly one in five Americans—remain too often overlooked in national policymaking, despite their vital contributions to the country’s economic, cultural, and social fabric. 

“America’s rural future is critical to the future of the country as a whole,” said Chris Sununu. “I’m honored to co-chair this commission with Senator Heitkamp, and I’m excited to work with Brookings and AEI to develop a serious, bipartisan framework that reflects the needs, strengths, and aspirations of rural Americans.” 

“This commission reflects a shared commitment to moving beyond polarization and toward constructive dialogue,” said Heitkamp. “Rural Americans deserve to be heard—and we’re focused on making sure the solutions are grounded in their lived experiences.”  

The Brookings-AEI Commission will bring together a politically diverse group of leaders across a range of personal and professional backgrounds, including former elected officials, business executives, investors, philanthropic leaders, practitioners, and community representatives.  

Other commission members include the following: 

• Benji Backer, CEO and Founder, Nature is Nonpartisan 

• William J. Bynum, CEO, Hope Enterprise Corp. / Hope Credit Union 

• Phil Chow, CEO, Humanitas AI 

• Valerie N. Davidson, Executive Director, Yuut Elitnaurviat— People’s Learning Center, Inc; Former Lieutenant Governor, Alaska 

• Phil English, Co-Chairman, Government Relations Practice Group; ArentFox Schiff LLP 

• Tom Halverson, Chief Executive Officer, CoBank 

• Keith Humphreys, Esther Ting Memorial Professor, Stanford University 

• Derek Kilmer, Senior Vice President, U.S. Program & Policy, The Rockefeller Foundation 

• Trent McKnight, Founder, AgriCorps 

• Noa Meyer, Partner and Chief Impact Officer, BDT and MSD Partners 

• Janti Soeripto, President and CEO, Save the Children US 

• Chris Stirewalt, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute 

• Xochitl Torres Small, Former Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture 

• Heather Wilson, President, The University of Texas at El Paso 

• Stephen (Seve) Wilson, retired General, United States Air Force

Over the next two years, members will hold visits and listening sessions across rural America, conduct in-depth policy analysis, and elevate rural voices through public events and narrative storytelling. The commission will produce a national rural strategy by fall 2027 as well as shorter analyses in the interim, with actionable recommendations addressing key areas such as: 

• Workforce and economy. 

• Demographics and physical and social connectivity. 

• Health finance, systems, and outcomes. 

• Natural resources, climate, and resilience. 

• Policy and governance. 

“This Brookings-AEI Commission will elevate the voices of local communities to help bridge partisan divides and build a strategic roadmap to rural prosperity,” said Brookings President Cecilia Rouse. 

“All of us at AEI are pleased to partner with Governor Sununu, Senator Heitkamp, and scholars at Brookings to examine the real condition of America’s rural communities and paths that advance their prosperity,” said AEI President Robert Doar. 

The commission’s public launch event, held on July 1, 2025, featured remarks from Brookings and AEI leadership, a conversation with the co-chairs, and an outline of the commission’s approach. The event recording is now available to watch online. 

America’s Rural Future builds on both institutions’ longstanding commitments to evidence-based policy and public service. Its findings will be shared with policymakers, civic leaders, and the public through accessible, forward-looking outputs. 

For more information, visit the Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity.