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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 Heidi 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. 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 will take place on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 1:30 to 3:00 PM EDT. The event will feature remarks from Brookings and AEI leadership, a conversation with the co-chairs, and an outline of the commission’s approach. Register 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.
About Brookings
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to conduct in-depth, nonpartisan research to improve policy and governance at local, national, and global levels.
