[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE FIRST ANNUAL NATIONAL RURAL HEALTH DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CANDICE S. MILLER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2011

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, today, I am proud to offer my 
support of the first ever National Rural Health Day.
  My district is home to five rural hospitals, Deckerville Community 
Hospital, Harbor Beach Community Hospital, Marlette Community Hospital, 
Scheurer Hospital and McKenzie Memorial Hospital.
  Thanks to these hospitals, my constituents, as well as 62 million 
Americans living in small towns and rural communities across the United 
States, have greater access to medical services and comprehensive care 
near the communities where they live.
  During my time in Congress, I have been proud to support rural 
hospitals in my district. I took a leading role in helping to complete 
the Thumb Rural Health Network's wireless communications system. This 
infrastructure links all eight of the rural hospitals serving Huron, 
Sanilac, and Tuscola Counties, in order to create greater communication 
about patient care between this region's hospitals and allow for more 
medical consultation from specialists from other Michigan facilities 
via remote technology.
  I believe that it is critically important for all Michigan residents 
to have access to quality health care services, and I know that each 
rural hospital is continually looking for innovative and resourceful 
ways to reach this goal despite geographical obstacles.
  In my district, rural hospitals account for nearly 1,000 jobs. In a 
time of economic uncertainty and rising unemployment that has hurt 
Michigan businesses and families, I am encouraged by the many benefits 
rural hospitals bring to the communities they serve.
  I would like to praise rural hospitals on National Rural Health Day 
and extend my thanks for the work they do for our communities in my 
district, as well as across the Nation.

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