Supporting our Rural Communities

How you can help

On March 14, 2025, Congress approved a continuing resolution to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2025. Eastern Washington’s Representative Michael Baumgartner voted in favor of the budget along with 216 other republicans.

The vocabulary choice of the budget’s title “continuing resolution” leads one to believe it’s nothing more than continuation of funding needed in Washington state programs that help millions or residents.

Turns out it does the absolute opposite.

Unfortunately, the budget rips funding from vital programs and hits Eastern Washington’s rural areas the hardest.

Rural Programs most impacted:

• Farmers

• Healthcare

• Public Education

• Medicaid

• Veterans

Eastern Washington’s rural areas will be hit the hardest and personally I worry that the rural communities don’t clearly understand what’s coming.

Healthcare

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cut its funding this month. The Washington Department of Health learned last week that Caravan Mobile Health Care would lose its financial support.

The program has been crucial in providing free vaccinations, health screenings, and other resources to thousands of rural residents. Communities with low income, unhoused populations, and those who distrust traditional medical systems have relied heavily on the services offered. The program worked closely with community-based partners to reach those in need, making the impact of its closure significant.

In addition, seven rural clinics will close. Approximately 200 people will be furloughed or laid off due to the funding cuts, according to the State Department of Health.

Farming

A billon dollars’ worth of contracts has been cancelled for small farmers, ranchers, and fishermen nationwide. The dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will have a negative impact on Wahington state’s economy and competitive edge in global markets.

Medicaid

Medicare cuts disproportionately harm rural communities by exacerbating existing health disparities, impacting access to care, and straining the financial viability of rural hospitals and clinics. These cuts can lead to reduced services, longer wait times, and potentially even closures, leaving rural residents with fewer healthcare options. 

Education

Budget cuts in education can severely impact student learning, teacher quality, and overall school resources. These cuts often lead to reduced funding for crucial programs, such as pre-K, and can result in fewer teachers, larger class sizes, outdated materials, and limited access to technology and extracurricular activities. This can negatively affect student engagement, academic performance, and the overall quality of education.

Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning to cut 83,000 jobs, slashing employment by over 17 percent at the federal agency that provides health care for millions of veterans, according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press on March 5, 2025. Budget cuts erode the federal workforce, gut VA health care, de-staffs the suicide hotline, deletes veterans’ well-being research, and cuts benefits like food stamps, Medicaid and health insurance.

Have budget cuts been put into place, not to balance the budget, but rather to weaken our nation, our people and our communities enough to allow the oligarchs to snatch up the land, businesses and the American dream?

What are we going to do about it?

“We are not potted plants - do something” - Robert Hubbell

I grew up in a small rural community. Rural communities are filled with good people who are strong, resilient, and proud. They love their country and their democracy. They are proud of their communities, their schools, their churches and their life choices. The farmers work from dawn to dusk to provide food for our nation and the world tables which in turn bring them pride, joy, and hopefully income, so they can do it again the next year.

Spokane Indivisible Rural Outreach Group wants to help by providing information to the rural communities. We want to hand them a baton filled with resources, information, and funding opportunities and let them run with it. They know their communities best, and they will know what their communities need.

Indivisible is a bi-partisan organization, its designed to help make the people’s voices heard. Rural communities’ voices need to be heard, those listening need to understand if the rural communities go down, we all go down.

How can you help?

If you or someone you know in a rural area might be interested in setting up a visit to connect with our Outreach group, please share this Substack.

Some rural communities have already established community groups, if you would like to connect with those groups, please send a message to the email provided below.

If you are interested in helping with Spokane Indivisible Rural Outreach group, have questions, or need additional information please contact spokaneindivisible24@gmail.com

Indivisible’s Rural Caucus

Click here for additional information: Rural Caucus | Indivisible

Whether you've been organizing in your rural community for decades or just getting started, our rural program provides space to connect with one another, engage in rural electoral and advocacy work and celebrate rural resistance and power building.

What is the Rural Caucus?

From the Northeast to the Deep South, from the Great Lakes and the Great Plains, from the desert to the Alaskan tundra, Indivisibles and friends organize in rural areas to win our communities back. We organize in traditionally forgotten areas, and we’re at the front lines of the fight for our democracy. Indivisible leaders in rural areas are smart, brave, and resourceful. At Indivisible, we’re proud to support our rural leaders and allies. If magic is bending the forces around you according to your intent, then rural Indivisibles work magic every day. We can’t wait for you to join us.

When you join the Raucous Rural Caucus, you get access to:

• Our monthly calls

• Our annual Rural Summit

• Messaging guidance and tailored support

• A community of progressive rural activists who want to help you succeed.

We are in this together.

Breathe. Resist. Rest. Repeat.

Sami

Spokane Indivisible Team

We have the power!