Officials to hit rural roads this summer

WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- Cabinet secretaries and administrative officials will fan across the United States this summer to discuss strengthening rural America, the White House said.

Vice President Joe Biden and Secretaries Gary Locke and Tom Vilsack kicked off the Rural Tour Wednesday by visiting Wattsburg, Pa., to discuss the issue of rural broadband.

"A healthy American economy depends on a prosperous rural America," President Barack Obama said in a White House news release. "Rural America is vast and diverse, and different communities face different challenges and opportunities. That's why we're going out to hear directly from the people of rural America about their needs and concerns and what my administration can do to support them."

Officials participating in the Rural Tour said they expect to learn about the diversity of challenges and opportunities facing small towns and rural communities, the White House said. They also will share some of the administration's ideas about building robust and vibrant communities.

Among the topics to be discussed will be healthcare, energy, infrastructure, education, agriculture, economic development and natural resources, the White House said.