[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 200 (Thursday, December 22, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H10024-H10025]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   STATE OFFICES OF RURAL HEALTH PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2022

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the

[[Page H10025]]

bill (S. 4978) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize 
the State offices of rural health program.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 4978.

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``State Offices of Rural 
     Health Program Reauthorization Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. STATE OFFICES OF RURAL HEALTH.

       Section 338J(i)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 254r(i)(1)) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2018 
     through 2022'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2023 through 
     2027''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on S. 4978.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Today I rise in support of S. 4978, the State Offices of Rural Health 
Program Reauthorization Act of 2022. Since 1991, the Health Resources 
and Services Administration's State Offices of Rural Health Program has 
assisted States in strengthening rural healthcare delivery systems by 
maintaining a central hub for rural health in each State. This bill 
would reauthorize the program for 5 years, through 2027.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation could not come at a more crucial 
time. Today, rural Americans face a far greater risk of death from many 
of the leading causes of death for adults in our country, including 
heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases.
  In addition, unintentional injury deaths among rural populations are 
approximately 50 percent higher than among urban populations.
  These adverse effects in rural areas also translate to pediatric 
populations. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention found that children living in rural areas with mental, 
behavioral, and developmental disorders faced more community and family 
challenges than children living in urban areas with the same disorders. 
Adolescent suicide rate is also approximately 47 percent higher in 
rural areas.
  HRSA's State Offices of Rural Health Program has met the health needs 
of rural Americans head on for the last 30 years. The program provides 
funding for an institutional framework that links small rural 
communities with State and Federal resources to develop long-term 
solutions to rural health programs through research, as well as 
dissemination of information and solutions to barriers to rural health.
  These offices must also coordinate all activities in the State 
related to rural healthcare and conduct recruitment and retention 
activities for healthcare professionals to serve in rural areas.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 4978, State Offices of 
Rural Health Program Reauthorization Act. This program provides funding 
to connect small rural communities with State and Federal resources to 
develop long-term solutions to rural health programs that help improve 
access to care in underserved areas of our country.
  This legislation is a clean, 5-year reauthorization at currently 
authorized levels and will help to preserve the program's flexibility 
to meet State and local rural healthcare needs.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  MR. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I also would urge everyone, all of my 
colleagues, on a bipartisan basis to support this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 4978.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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