The 5th annual report of the President to Congress on the availability of government and government-assisted services to rural areas, this report outlines executive branch efforts to improve services to rural America during fiscal year (FY) 1973. Services to rural America are measured by comparing the distribution of FY 1973 outlays in 5 broad program categories, based on 226 selected Federal programs, with the distribution of the total population grouped along a 6-part urban-to-rural dimension. This comparison provides insights as to which population groups, with respect to the dimension of their rural or urban character, are influenced most by the total package of Federal programs. The geographic unit chosen as the basis for population distribution is the substate planning and development district. The 546 designated districts in the country, in addition to being grouped according to their urban-to-rural dimension, are grouped according to their rate of 1960-70 population growth and 1969 median family income. Analysis based on these groupings measures differences in per capita Federal outlays among declining and fast-growing districts and among low-income and high-income districts. The appendix presents the distribution of fiscal 1973 and fiscal 1972 total and per capita Federal outlays for counties grouped along an urban-to-rural dimension. (Author/NQ)