U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly addressed issues important to rural residents at a summit held last week in Washington, D. C.
The Steering and Outreach Committee gathering saw the Indiana Democrat lead a panel with the Executive Director of the White House Rural Council about some of the issues facing agricultural and rural communities.
Topping the discussion was an issue important to Donnelly: the heroin and opioid epidemic. Indiana is among the states hit hardest by an increase in the use of the illicit substances. The panel also discussed issues related to healthcare access, and job opportunities.
The summit was focused on identifying problems, but also about possible solutions moving forward.