RURAL AREAS related term(s) Agriculture; Suburban areas

Amendments

Agriculture: encourage owners and operators of privately-held farm and ranch land to voluntarily make their land available for access by the public under programs administered by States (H.R. 3482), H12312 [21NO]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2673), S13927, S13943 [4NO], S13955, S13972, S13997, S13998, S14005, S14006, S14007, S14008, S14009, S14010, S14011, S14052, S14061, S14062, S14063, S14065, S14066, S14067, S14068, S14069 [5NO], S14104, S14106, S14118, S14128, S14131, S14140, S14142, S14143, S14145, S14182, S14183, S14184, S14185 [6NO], H6634, H6635, H6639, H6640, H6648, H6649, H6650, H6651, H6656, H6708 [14JY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), consideration of conference report (H. Res. 473), H12765 [8DE]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), consideration of conference report—same-day consideration (H. Res. 458), H12185 [21NO]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), consideration of conference report—same-day consideration (H. Res. 465), H12758 [8DE]

North Dakota: implement recommendations of the Garrison Unit Tribal Advisory Committee by providing authorization for the construction of a rural health care facility on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation (S. 1146), S13317 [27OC]

Appointments

Conferees: H.R. 2673, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations, S14155 [6NO], S14971 [17NO], H11379 [18NO]

Bills and resolutions

Agriculture: assist small farms with modernization to increase profitability and competitiveness in ways that provide environmental benefits (see H.R. 1293), H1901 [13MR]

———encourage owners and operators of privately-held farm and ranch land to voluntarily make their land available for access by the public under programs administered by States (see S. 1840), S14271 [7NO] (see H.R. 3482), H11133 [7NO]

———increase competition and transparency among packers required to report information on the price and quantity of livestock purchased (see S. 325), S2051 [6FE]

———provide emergency agriculture assistance (see S. 21), S35 [7JA] (see S. 108, 125), S132 [9JA] (see S. 1309), S8300 [20JN] (see S. 1626), S11648 [17SE] (see H.R. 92), H55 (see H.R. 160), H57 [7JA] (see H.R. 257), H135 (see H.R. 307), H137 [8JA] (see H.R. 376), H171 [27JA] (see H.R. 2684), H6464 [9JY]

———provide emergency agriculture assistance, impose tariff-rate quotas on certain casein and milk protein concentrates, and provide tax relief for farmers and producers of biodiesel (see S. 154), S288 [14JA]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (see S. 1427), S9592 [17JY] (see H.R. 2673), H6463 [9JY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), consideration of conference report (see H. Res. 473), H12917 [8DE]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), consideration of conference report—same-day consideration (see H. Res. 458), H11700 [20NO] (see H. Res. 465), H12306 [21NO]

Alaska: provide habitable living quarters for educational employees, and their households, in rural areas located in or near Alaska Native Villages (see S. 1905), S15287 [20NO]

———resolve certain conveyances and provide for alternative land selections relative to Cape Fox Corp. and Sealaska Corp. (see S. 1354), S8725 [26JN] (see H.R. 1899), H3571 [30AP]

Armed Forces: expand reimbursement for travel expenses of covered beneficiaries for specialty care to cover specialized dental care (see S. 336), S2119 [10FE]

Aroostook County, ME: modify empowerment zone boundaries (see S. 299), S1871 [4FE] (see H.R. 3448), H10457 [5NO]

Aviation: clarify the definition of rural airports (see S. 1295), S8232 [19JN]

Bankruptcy: extend reenactment period for chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code relative to family farmers (see S. 1323), S8439 [24JN] (see S. 1920), S15407 [21NO] (see H.R. 2302), H4875 [3JN] (see H.R. 2465), H5365 [12JN] (see H.R. 3540, 3542), H11700 [20NO]

———permanently reenact chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code relative to family farmers (see S. 2004), S16120 [9DE]

———protect family farmers and family fishermen (see H.R. 343), H169 [27JA]

Bureau of Reclamation: assist States and local communities in evaluating and developing rural and small community water supply systems (see S. 1085), S6707 [20MY]

Community development: provide grant funding for additional empowerment zones and enterprise communities (see S. 586), S3504 [11MR]

Computers: expand computer and telecommunications advancements in rural areas (see H.R. 138), H56 [7JA]

Delta/Black Belt Regional Authority: establish to provide community and economic development in the distressed Southern Black Belt and Mississippi Delta region (see H.R. 678), H390 [11FE]

Dept. of Agriculture: allow quick aid to producers in federally declared disaster areas, provide emergency disaster assistance to certain producers for qualifying crop losses, and continue livestock assistance program (see H.R. 3402), H10129 [29OC]

———provide administrative or judicial relief for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers who were discriminated against in farm credit and benefit programs (see H.R. 1667), H2938 [8AP]

Dept. of Defense: prioritize transfer of excess personal property to the Forest Service Federal Excess Personal Property Program in order to be loaned to rural fire departments (see S. 641), S3881 [18MR] (see H.R. 1311), H1952 [18MR]

Dept. of HHS: establish health empowerment zone programs in communities that disproportionately experience disparities in health status and health care (see H.R. 3588), H12307 [21NO]

Dept. of the Interior: establish rural water supply program in Reclamation States to provide clean, safe, affordable, and reliable water supply to rural residents (see S. 1732), S12607 [15OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: make motor vehicle reimbursement rates for veterans comparable to reimbursement rates for Federal employees (see H.R. 632), H322 [5FE]

Education: assist local educational agencies in providing financial incentives to attract teachers to rural and high-poverty areas (see H.R. 2811), H7225 [21JY]

———expand the eligibility for teacher loan forgiveness to provide additional incentives for teachers in economically depressed rural areas, territories, and Indian reservations (see H.R. 789), H700 [13FE]

———provide discounted housing for teachers and other school staff in certain rural and low-population States (see S. 1205), S7476 [5JN]

Employment: provide job creation and assistance (see H.R. 137), H56 [7JA]

FAA: enhance Essential Air Service Program (see H.R. 2077), H4011 [13MY]

———preserve Essential Air Service Program (see S. 1998), S16120 [9DE]

———reauthorize the Essential Air Service Program (see S. 964), S5541 [30AP]

———use the most common route to determine mileage between a small airport and a hub airport in establishing Essential Air Service Program eligibility (see S. 975), S5650 [1MY] (see H.R. 1944), H3636 [1MY]

Federal aid programs: distribution of Federal disaster assistance to rural areas (see H.R. 1790), H3352 [11AP]

Government National Mortgage Association: allow the guarantee of securities backed by Rural Housing Service guaranteed loans (see H.R. 2740), H6868 [15JY]

Health: amend legislation reauthorizing health centers program and National Health Service Corps and establishing Healthy Communities Access Program to coordinate services for uninsured and underinsured (see S. 1775), S13053 [22OC]

———expand access to affordable health care, strengthen health care safety net, and make services more available in rural and underserved areas (see S. 100), S37 [7JA]

———increase Federal investment in programs that provide health care services to uninsured and low-income individuals in medically underserved areas (see S. Res. 96), S4166 [20MR] (see H. Res. 142), H1902 [13MR]

———provide assistance for the development of indoor disease prevention and health promotion centers in urban and rural areas (see H.R. 1022), H1463 [27FE]

———technical amendments to legislation reauthorizing health centers program and National Health Service Corps and establishing Healthy Communities Access Program (see H.R. 3038), H8081 [9SE]

Health care facilities: provide grants to health centers for facility construction, modernization, replacement, and major equipment purchases (see S. 673), S4165 [20MR] (see H.R. 1386), H2269 [20MR]

———provide greater access for residents of frontier areas to the healthcare services provided by community health centers (see S. 1883), S15061 [18NO] (see H.R. 3668), H12918 [8DE]

Health care professionals: admission requirements for nonimmigrant nurses (see H.R. 87), H54 [7JA]

———establish demonstration programs to encourage physicians to practice in rural settings (see S. 1868), S14964 [17NO] (see H.R. 3512), H11391 (see H.R. 3512), H11514 [18NO]

———provide practitioners in rural areas with training in preventive health care (see S. 75), S36 [7JA]

Higher Education Act: eligibility standards for institutions offering accredited distance education programs (see H.R. 2913), H7782 [25JY]

———student assistance eligibility standards for institutions offering accredited distance education programs (see S. 1203), S7476 [5JN]

Housing: promote the development of affordable, quality rental housing in rural areas for low-income households (see H.R. 1722), H3301 [10AP]

———provide affordability and ensure a competitive North American market for softwood lumber (see S. Con. Res. 22), S3730 [13MR] (see H. Con. Res. 197), H4738 [22MY]

Law enforcement: promote rural safety and improve rural law enforcement (see S. 1907), S15287 [20NO] (see S. 1951), S15975 [25NO]

Medicare: eliminate reduction in payment rates under the prospective payment system for home health services and increase payments for such services in rural areas (see H.R. 319), H137 [8JA]

———enhance access of beneficiaries who live in medically underserved areas to critical primary and preventive health care benefits and improve the Medicare+Choice program (see S. 654), S3881 [18MR] (see H.R. 1377), H2268 [20MR]

———establish uniform physician fee schedule payments (see S. 1135), S6978 [22MY]

———extend reasonable cost contracts to expand the area in which plans offered under such contracts may operate and to apply certain provisions of Medicare+Choice program to such plans (see S. 1220), S7618 [10JN]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (see S. 172), S848 [15JA] (see S. 942), S5483 [29AP] (see H.R. 937), H1395 [26FE]

———improve geographic equity in the provision of items and services (see H.R. 2451), H5365 [12JN]

———improve Medicare Incentive Payment Program (see S. 379), S2341 [12FE]

———improve outpatient health care for beneficiaries in rural areas (see S. 1185), S7381 [4JN] (see H.R. 2333), H4977 [4JN]

———improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (see H.R. 2624), H6262 [26JN] (see H.R. 2904), H7781 [25JY]

———permanently increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas (see S. 636), S3804 [17MR] (see H.R. 500), H244 [29JA]

———promote access to health care services in rural areas (see H.R. 830), H702 [13FE] (see H.R. 2175), H4367 [20MY]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries to health care provided by hospitals in rural areas (see S. 816), S4957 [8AP] (see H.R. 1675), H2938 [8AP]

———protect and strengthen beneficiaries' access to quality health care in rural areas (see H. Res. 267), H5174 [10JN]

———provide prescription drug coverage and make improvements in payment for rural providers (see H.R. 2606), H5928 [25JN]

———remove inpatient limitation on the proportion of hospice care that certain rural hospice programs may provide (see S. 114), S132 [9JA] (see H.R. 754), H462 [12FE]

———standardize payment amounts for inpatient hospital services and make other rural health care improvements (see S. 987), S5725 [5MY]

Mount Vernon, IL: amend Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act relative to rural access project (see H.R. 317), H137 [8JA]

National Center for Social Work Research: establish (see S. 73), S36 [7JA] (see H.R. 844), H703 [13FE]

Native Americans: provide equitable funding for tribal transportation programs (see S. 1122), S6978 [22MY]

North Dakota: implement recommendations of the Garrison Unit Tribal Advisory Committee by providing authorization for the construction of a rural health care facility on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation (see S. 1146), S7134 [23MY]

Packers and Stockyards Act: limit the number of packer-owned swine that certain packers may slaughter in any calendar year (see S. 1644), S11832 [23SE]

———prohibit packers from owning, feeding, or controlling livestock intended for slaughter (see S. 27), S35 [7JA] (see H.R. 719), H460 [12FE]

———prohibit use of certain anti-competitive forward contracts (see S. 1044), S6070 [13MY]

Postal Service: limit closing and consolidation of certain post offices in rural communities (see S. 1534), S10618 [31JY]

Poverty: condition receipt of certain State revolving funds on the restriction of development or construction of new colonias that lack necessary infrastructure along the U.S.-Mexico border (see S. 1163), S7188 [2JN]

———enhance the capacity of organizations working in the U.S.-Mexico border area to develop affordable housing and foster economic opportunity in the colonias (see S. 532), S3162 [5MR] (see H.R. 1088), H1640 [5MR]

Roads and highways: complete construction of the Appalachian Development Highway System (see S. 1176), S7235 [3JN] (see H.R. 2381), H5044 [5JN]

———establish program to make allocations to States for projects to expand 2-lane highways in rural areas to 4-lane highways (see S. 365), S2340 [12FE]

———provide the Highway Trust Fund additional funding for Indian reservation roads (see S. 725), S4512 [27MR] (see S. 1165), S7188 [2JN] (see H.R. 2331), H4977 [4JN]

Rural Renaissance Corp.: establish to revitalize rural America (see S. 1796), S13516 [29OC]

Safety Net Organizations and Patient Advisory Commission: establish (see S. 732), S4512 [27MR]

SouthEast Crescent Authority: establish (see H.R. 141), H56 [7JA]

Taxation: allow a first time homebuyer credit for the purchase of principal residences in rural areas (see H.R. 1913), H3635 [1MY]

———allow businesses to qualify as renewal community businesses if such businesses employ residents of certain nearby areas (see H.R. 3669), H12918 [8DE]

———allow businesses to qualify as renewal community businesses if such businesses employ residents of certain other renewal communities (see S. 903), S5342 [11AP]

———allow expensing of broadband Internet access expenditures (see S. 160), S288 [14JA] (see H.R. 769), H699 [13FE]

———exclude from gross income interest received on loans secured by agricultural real property (see S. 1263), S7876 [13JN]

———permit use of proceeds of tax exempt private activity bonds for community and water facility loans guaranteed under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (see H.R. 2648), H6263 [26JN]

———provide a tax credit for broadband Internet access (see H.R. 768), H699 [13FE]

———provide incentives for rural development (see H.R. 2972), H7784 [25JY]

———provide tax credit to teachers in rural or high unemployment areas or who achieve National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification (see S. 857), S5173 [10AP] (see H.R. 3338), H9687 [17OC]

———treatment of certain expenses of rural letter carriers relative to the business use of a personal vehicle (see S. 1333), S8559 [25JN] (see H.R. 2265), H4737 [22MY]

Telecommunications: authorize grants for community telecommunications infrastructure planning and market development (see S. 1294), S8232 [19JN]

———equitably distribute universal service support throughout rural areas (see S. 1380), S9119 [9JY] (see H.R. 1582), H2819 [3AP]

Television: ensure equity among full-service television broadcasters and provide local programming to communities through cable carriage rights for class A television stations (see H.R. 1626), H2821 [3AP]

———provide residents of States with single network affiliate stations to receive the signals of such stations via satellite (see H.R. 2862), H7615 [24JY]

Towns: reward the hard work and risk of individuals who live in and help preserve small, rural towns (see S. 602), S3620 [12MR] (see H.R. 1686), H3051 [9AP] (see H.R. 2194), H4528 [21MY]

Veterans: improve access to health care for rural veterans (see H.R. 2379), H5044 [5JN]

Cloture motions

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2673), conference report, S16083 [9DE]

Conference reports

Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations (H.R. 2673), H12323-H12746 [25NO]

Factsheets

Family Farm and Ranch Innovation Act (H.R. 1293), E460 [13MR]

Letters

Emergency agriculture assistance: several agricultural organizations, S1167 [17JA]

Enhance Medicare beneficiary access to quality health care services in rural areas: President Bush, S7956 [17JN]

Essential Air Service Program funding: Aliceann Wohlbruck, National Association of Development Organizations, S7799 [12JN]

———Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, S7798 [12JN]

———Donald E. Carroll, Mayor of Alamagordo, NM, S7798 [12JN]

———John D. (Mike) Rice, New Mexico Aviation Division, S7798 [12JN]

———several Representatives, S12366 [2OC], S13116 [23OC]

———several Senators, S12366 [2OC], S13116 [23OC]

Impact on the quality of life in rural, African villages of implementing the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions versus the electrification of such villages: John R. Christy, E1077 [23MY]

Medicare beneficiary access to quality health care services in rural areas: President Bush, S6959 [22MY]

Medicare payments to rural health care providers and facilities: Kimberly A. Russel and Kirk Norris, Iowa Hospital Association, S15580 [22NO]

Permanently increase Medicare payment rates for home health services in rural areas: several Senators, S8703 [26JN]

Remove cost-sharing burden of small airports receiving essential air services: several Representatives, H9960, H9961 [28OC]

———several Senators, H9960 [28OC]

Resident Instruction and Distance Education Grants Program funding: several Members of Congress, H6651 [14JY]

Tribal Transportation Program Improvement Act: several Senators, S4517 [27MR]

Voluntary Public Access and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program Act: David J. Frederickson, National Farmers Union, S14273 [7NO]

———several organizations, S14273 [7NO]

Memorandums

National Access Fees and Federal Universal Service Fees on Telephone Services: Thomas C. Dorr, S14978 [18NO]

Motions

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2673), S14005 [5NO], S14142 [6NO], H6634 [14JY], H11372 [18NO]

Press releases

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (H.R. 1): Iowa Hospital Association, S15580 [22NO]

Remarks in House

Africa: impact on the quality of life in rural villages of implementing the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions versus the electrification of such villages, E1077 [23MY]

Agriculture: assist small farms with modernization to increase profitability and competitiveness in ways that provide environmental benefits (H.R. 1293), E459 [13MR]

———provide emergency agriculture assistance, H40-H43 [7JA]

———provide emergency agriculture assistance (H.R. 257), H64 [8JA]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: across-the-board funding reduction, H6648, H6649 [14JY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), H6609-H6658, H6676-H6680 [14JY], H11372 [18NO], E1489 [15JY], E1504 [17JY], E1524, E1528, E1536 [18JY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), conference report, H12315 [25NO], H12749, H12753, H12766-H12845, H12854, H12882, H12884 [8DE], E2460 [25NO], E2505, E2548, E2549 [8DE], E2551, E2556 [15DE]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), consideration of conference report (H. Res. 473), H12760-H12766 [8DE]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), consideration of conference report—same-day consideration (H. Res. 458), H12181-H12186 [21NO]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), consideration of conference report—same-day consideration (H. Res. 465), H12754-H12760 [8DE]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), motion to instruct conferees, H11372-H11377 [18NO], E2350 [20NO]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), unanimous-consent request, H6633 [14JY]

Bankruptcy: extend reenactment period for chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code relative to family farmers (H.R. 2465), H5673-H5675 [23JN]

———extend reenactment period for chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code relative to family farmers (H.R. 3542), E2366 [21NO]

Berg, Mary J.: Colorado Rural Health Center Rural Healthcare Excellence Award recipient, E1758 [10SE]

Center for Rural Health Development: Dept. of the Treasury designation as a Community Development Financial Institution, E829 [1MY]

Cumberland Gap, TN: anniversary, E1501 [17JY]

Delta/Black Belt Regional Authority: establish to provide community and economic development in the distressed Southern Black Belt and Mississippi Delta region (H.R. 678), H419 [12FE]

Dept. of Agriculture: conservation technical assistance programs funding, H6650 [14JY]

Dept. of HHS: establish health empowerment zone programs in communities that disproportionately experience disparities in health status and health care (H.R. 3588), E2403 [22NO]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: make motor vehicle reimbursement rates for veterans comparable to reimbursement rates for Federal employees, H7695 [25JY]

Education: effects of unfunded Federal mandates, H2314 [26MR]

———establish partnerships between educational entities and inner city and rural secondary schools to encourage teaching as a career, H6380, H6381 [9JY]

———expand the eligibility for teacher loan forgiveness to provide additional incentives for teachers in economically depressed rural areas, territories, and Indian reservations (H.R. 789), E247 [13FE]

FAA: Essential Air Service Program funding, H5206, H5207 [11JN], H8048 [9SE]

———remove co-payments from Essential Air Service communities relative to distance from a hub, H5210, H5233-H5235 [11JN]

———remove cost-sharing burden of small airports receiving essential air services funding, H8059 [9SE], H9960 [28OC], H10168, H10186 [30OC]

———use the most common route to determine mileage between a small airport and a hub airport in establishing Essential Air Service Program eligibility, H5236-H5238 [11JN]

———use the most common route to determine mileage between a small airport and a hub airport in establishing Essential Air Service Program eligibility (H.R. 1944), H3410 [29AP], E845 [1MY]

FCC: development and deployment of high-speed communications technologies to rural areas, E743 [11AP]

Federal aid programs: distribution of Federal disaster assistance to rural areas (H.R. 1790), E766 [12AP]

Gill, Will, Jr.: Madera County, CA, Chamber of Commerce and Madera County Farm Bureau Senior Farmer of the Year award recipient, E2301 [17NO]

Health: increase Federal investment in programs that provide health care services to uninsured and low-income individuals in medically underserved areas (H. Res. 142), E464 [13MR]

———promote and improve access to health care services, H179 [28JA]

———technical amendments to legislation reauthorizing health centers program and National Health Service Corps and establishing Healthy Communities Access Program (H.R. 3038), H9049-H9051 [1OC], E1971 [2OC]

Kauai, HI: rural utilities service high energy costs grant funding, H12832 [8DE]

Kuna, ID: tribute to citizens who finished spring planting for Samuel Johnston during military deployment, E723 [10AP]

Lyndon Station, WI: anniversary, H5059 [9JN]

Medicare: eliminate reduction in payment rates under the prospective payment system for home health services and increase payments for such services in rural areas, H232 [29JA], H309-H311 [5FE]

———enhance beneficiary access to quality health care services in rural areas, H5807 [24JN], H9062-H9067 [1OC]

———ensure Medicare+Choice and Medicare Advantage payments attributable to disproportionate share hospitals are paid directly to such hospitals, H8880-H8886 [24SE], H8925-H8930 [25SE], H10528-H10534 [6NO], E1907 [25SE], E1968 [2OC]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals, H12106 [21NO]

———increase payments to rural health care providers and facilities, H11870-H11872 [20NO], H12241 [21NO], E1956 [2OC]

———make equitable standardize payment amounts for urban and rural inpatient hospital services, H9011 [30SE]

———promote access to health care services in rural areas (H.R. 2175), E1011 [21MY]

National Center for Social Work Research: establish (H.R. 844), E1273 [17JN]

North Georgia College & State University: tribute to Graduate Program in Physical Therapy community outreach program for providing equipment and services to senior citizens in rural areas, E1089 [2JN]

OATS, Inc.: tribute, E804 [30AP]

Ohio: observance of Farm Worker Appreciation Day, E1568 [23JY]

Power resources: renewable fuel standard, H11384 [18NO]

Sierra Tel Communications Group: tribute, E1800 [16SE]

Telecommunications Development Fund: extend loans to start up technology and telecommunications companies in rural and underserved areas, H5184 [11JN]

Territories: Resident Instruction and Distance Education Grants Program funding, H6624, H6650, H6651 [14JY]

Transportation: develop and implement an intermodal transportation system, E533 [20MR]

Veterans: improve access to health care for rural veterans (H.R. 2379), H5798 [24JN]

Remarks in Senate

Agriculture: encourage owners and operators of privately-held farm and ranch land to voluntarily make their land available for access by the public under programs administered by States (S. 1840), S14271-S14274 [7NO]

———increase competition and transparency among packers required to report information on the price and quantity of livestock purchased (S. 325), S2052 [6FE]

———provide emergency agriculture assistance, S1127, S1166 [17JA], S1220 [21JA], S1327-S1340 [22JA], S2420, S2434 [13FE], S13773 [3NO], S14001, S14003-S14005 [5NO]

———provide emergency agriculture assistance (S. 1309), S8305 [20JN]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2673), S13900 [4NO], S13954, S13960-S13980, S13997-S14022 [5NO], S14104-S14107, S14110-S14155 [6NO], S14265 [7NO]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), conference report, S15917-S15920, S15933-S15935 [25NO], S16083-S16089, S16108 [9DE]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), conference report—unanimous-consent request, S16082 [9DE]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), insert S. 1427 language in lieu, S13954 [5NO]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), unanimous-consent agreement, S13891 [4NO], S14122 [6NO]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2673), unanimous-consent request, S13977 [5NO]

Alaska: provide habitable living quarters for educational employees, and their households, in rural areas located in or near Alaska Native Villages (S. 1905), S15291 [20NO]

———resolve certain conveyances and provide for alternative land selections relative to Cape Fox Corp. and Sealaska Corp. (S. 1354), S8747 [26JN]

———water and waste disposal grant for Matanuska-Susitna Borough hospital project, S14016, S14017 [5NO]

Appalachian Regional Commission: funding, S11559 [16SE]

Appropriations: reduce for unrequested, low-priority, unnecessary, and wasteful spending programs, S14153 [6NO]

Armed Forces: expand reimbursement for travel expenses of covered beneficiaries for specialty care to cover specialized dental care (S. 336), S2121 [10FE]

Aroostook County, ME: modify empowerment zone boundaries (S. 299), S1908, S1909 [4FE]

Bankruptcy: extend reenactment period for chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code relative to family farmers (H.R. 2465), S10604, S10847 [31JY], S10897 [1AU]

———extend reenactment period for chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code relative to family farmers (S. 1323), S8442, S8478 [24JN], S8598 [25JN]

———extend reenactment period for chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code relative to family farmers (S. 1920), S16062, S16063 [25NO]

Bureau of Reclamation: assist States and local communities in evaluating and developing rural and small community water supply systems (S. 1085), S6709-S6711 [20MY]

Community development: provide grant funding for additional empowerment zones and enterprise communities (S. 586), S3506 [11MR]

———provide incentives to individuals who live in and help preserve small, rural towns, S114-S116 [9JA]

Dept. of Agriculture: conservation technical assistance programs funding, S14146 [6NO]

———develop and expand outreach programs for children in rural areas, S1436 [23JA]

———establish university-based research, extension, and educational programs to implement biobased energy technologies and products, S14010 [5NO]

———Historic Barn Preservation Program funding, S14143 [6NO]

———Rural Utilities Service broadband loan program funding, S13957, S13960 [5NO], S14128-S14130 [6NO]

———telemedicine program funding, S14013 [5NO]

———use of Rural Utilities Service unobligated funds to carry out 911 access loan program for emergency communications systems in rural areas, S14012, S14013 [5NO]

Dept. of Education: Rural Education Achievement Program funding, S11078-S11081, S11086 [4SE]

Dept. of HHS: health professions training programs funding, S11337 [10SE]

Dept. of Justice: Crime-Free Rural States Program funding, S1407 [23JA]

Dept. of the Interior: establish rural water supply program in Reclamation States to provide clean, safe, affordable, and reliable water supply to rural residents (S. 1732), S12609 [15OC]

Education: provide discounted housing for teachers and other school staff in certain rural and low-population States (S. 1205), S7495 [5JN]

FAA: Essential Air Service Program funding, S7796-S7799 [12JN], S12364, S12365 [2OC], S13115-S13118 [23OC], S15388, S15389 [21NO]

———preserve Essential Air Service Program (S. 1998), S16137 [9DE]

———reauthorize the Essential Air Service Program (S. 964), S5611 [30AP]

———use the most common route to determine mileage between a small airport and a hub airport in establishing Essential Air Service Program eligibility, S7806 [12JN]

———use the most common route to determine mileage between a small airport and a hub airport in establishing Essential Air Service Program eligibility (S. 975), S5666 [1MY]

Food: prohibit funding for process approving the human consumption of meat from downed animals, S13997 [5NO], S14150 [6NO]

Forests: Rural Community Forestry Enterprise Program funding, S15370 [21NO]

Health: expand access to affordable health care, strengthen health care safety net, and make services more available in rural and underserved areas (S. 100), S78-S80 [7JA]

———increase Federal investment in programs that provide health care services to uninsured and low-income individuals in medically underserved areas (S. Res. 96), S4180 [20MR]

———technical amendments to legislation reauthorizing health centers program and National Health Service Corps and establishing Healthy Communities Access Program (H.R. 3038), S15303 [20NO]

Health care facilities: provide grants to health centers for facility construction, modernization, replacement, and major equipment purchases (S. 673), S4170 [20MR]

———provide greater access for residents of frontier areas to the healthcare services provided by community health centers (S. 1883), S15067 [18NO]

Health care professionals: provide practitioners in rural areas with training in preventive health care (S. 75), S69 [7JA]

Heber Springs, AR: water and waste disposal grant for hospital project, S14019 [5NO]

Higher Education Act: student assistance eligibility standards for institutions offering accredited distance education programs (S. 1203), S7494 [5JN]

Medicare: allow eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans to elect zero premium, stop-loss drug coverage protection, S8679 [26JN]

———eliminate reduction in payment rates under the prospective payment system for home health services and increase payments for such services in rural areas, S1662 [28JA], S3766 [17MR]

———encourage availability of Medicare Advantage benefits in medically underserved areas, S8489-S8495 [25JN]

———enhance access of beneficiaries who live in medically underserved areas to critical primary and preventive health care benefits and improve the Medicare+Choice program (S. 654), S3901 [18MR]

———enhance beneficiary access to quality health care services in rural areas, S6200 [14MY], S6413, S6461, S6462, S6474 [15MY], S6959 [22MY], S7954-S7957 [17JN], S8018, S8109, S8112 [18JN]

———ensure Medicare+Choice and Medicare Advantage payments attributable to disproportionate share hospitals are paid directly to such hospitals, S8335 [23JN]

———establish uniform physician fee schedule payments (S. 1135), S7040, S7041 [22MY]

———extend reasonable cost contracts to expand the area in which plans offered under such contracts may operate and to apply certain provisions of Medicare+Choice program to such plans (S. 1220), S7626 [10JN]

———geographically reclassify certain hospitals for purposes of equitable hospital payment rates, S8417 [24JN]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals, S10962 [2SE]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (S. 942), S5490 [29AP]

———improve Medicare Incentive Payment Program (S. 379), S2363 [12FE], S2448 [13FE]

———improve outpatient health care for beneficiaries in rural areas (S. 1185), S7397 [4JN]

———improve reimbursement to rural health care providers and facilities by reducing tax cut on dividends, S6202-S6204 [14MY], S6413 [15MY]

———increase payments to rural health care providers and facilities, S4350, S4351, S4371 [25MR], S15579 [22NO]

———permanently increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas, S8703 [26JN]

———permanently increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas (S. 636), S3808 [17MR]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries to health care provided by hospitals in rural areas (S. 816), S4962, S4963 [8AP]

———provide for equitable reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans, S8346 [23JN]

———reimburse Indian hospitals and clinics for all Part B services, S8337 [23JN]

———require Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to study disproportionate share hospital payments, S8336 [23JN], S8396 [24JN]

———standardize payment amounts for inpatient hospital services, S8417 [24JN]

———standardize payment amounts for inpatient hospital services and make other rural health care improvements (S. 987), S5731-S5733 [5MY]

Menominee Indian Tribe: rural development assistance funding, S14018 [5NO]

Mexico: establish microcredit lending program, small rural business assistance program, small rural farmers assistance, and a system of private property ownership, S9180 [10JY], S10603 [31JY]

———provide economic assistance to minimize impact of rural development crisis, S9166-S9169 [10JY]

———rural small business assistance funding, S13650 [30OC]

National Center for Social Work Research: establish (S. 73), S68 [7JA]

National Rural Development Partnership: funding, S14022 [5NO]

National Small Cities Day: observance, S7536 [9JN]

New Jersey: installation of photovoltaic solar electric systems for water supply systems and ventilation systems in livestock barns, S14019 [5NO]

North Dakota: implement recommendations of the Garrison Unit Tribal Advisory Committee by providing authorization for the construction of a rural health care facility on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation (S. 1146), S7145 [23MY], S13317 [27OC]

Owyhee Cattlemen's Association: anniversary, S9956 [25JY]

Packers and Stockyards Act: limit the number of packer-owned swine that certain packers may slaughter in any calendar year (S. 1644), S11834 [23SE]

———prohibit packers from owning, feeding, or controlling livestock intended for slaughter (S. 27), S42 [7JA]

———prohibit use of certain anti-competitive forward contracts (S. 1044), S6078-S6081 [13MY]

Postal Service: limit closing and consolidation of certain post offices in rural communities (S. 1534), S10665 [31JY]

Poverty: condition receipt of certain State revolving funds on the restriction of development or construction of new colonias that lack necessary infrastructure along the U.S.-Mexico border (S. 1163), S7190 [2JN]

———enhance the capacity of organizations working in the U.S.-Mexico border area to develop affordable housing and foster economic opportunity in the colonias (S. 532), S3187 [5MR]

Roads and highways: complete construction of the Appalachian Development Highway System (S. 1176), S7255-S7257 [3JN]

———establish program to make allocations to States for projects to expand 2-lane highways in rural areas to 4-lane highways (S. 365), S2343-S2345 [12FE]

———provide the Highway Trust Fund additional funding for Indian reservation roads (S. 1165), S7190 [2JN]

———provide the Highway Trust Fund additional funding for Indian reservation roads (S. 725), S4514-S4516 [27MR]

Safety Net Organizations and Patient Advisory Commission: establish (S. 732), S4522 [27MR]

SBA: clarify loan eligibility requirements for businesses providing on-demand air service to small communities, S12093, S12094 [26SE]

South Range, MI: anniversary, S8225 [19JN]

Taxation: allow businesses to qualify as renewal community businesses if such businesses employ residents of certain other renewal communities, S6426 [15MY]

———allow businesses to qualify as renewal community businesses if such businesses employ residents of certain other renewal communities (S. 903), S5357 [11AP]

———allow expensing of broadband Internet access expenditures, S6198-S6200 [14MY]

———allow expensing of broadband Internet access expenditures (S. 160), S302-S304 [14JA]

———provide tax credit to teachers in rural or high unemployment areas or who achieve National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification (S. 857), S5182 [10AP]

———treatment of certain expenses of rural letter carriers relative to the business use of a personal vehicle (S. 1333), S8569 [25JN]

Telecommunications: authorize grants for community telecommunications infrastructure planning and market development (S. 1294), S8241 [19JN]

———equitably distribute universal service support throughout rural areas (S. 1380), S9121 [9JY], S13793 [3NO], S14264 [7NO]

Television: portrayal of ``hillbillies'' on new proposed reality series, S2626 [25FE]

———portrayal of ``hillbillies'' on proposed reality series, S9989 [25JY]

Towns: reward the hard work and risk of individuals who live in and help preserve small, rural towns (S. 602), S3664-S3666 [13MR]

Reports filed

Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Committee of Conference (H.R. 2673) (H. Rept. 108-401), H12320 [25NO]

———Committee on Appropriations (House) (H.R. 2673) (H. Rept. 108-193), H6463 [9JY]

———Committee on Appropriations (Senate) (S. 1427) (S. Rept. 108-107), S9591 [17JY]

Cape Fox Land Entitlement Adjustment Act: Committee on Resources (House) (H.R. 1899) (H. Rept. 108-313), H9477 [15OC]

Consideration of Conference Report on H.R. 2673, Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 473) (H. Rept. 108-402), H12917 [8DE]

Health Care Safety Net Amendments Technical Corrections Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 3038) (H. Rept. 108-275), H8380 [17SE]

Same-Day Consideration of Consideration of Conference Report on H.R. 2673, Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 458) (H. Rept. 108-389), H11700 [20NO]

———Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 465) (H. Rept. 108-399), H12306 [21NO]

Three Affiliated Tribes Health Facility Compensation Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 1146) (S. Rept. 108-165), S12607 [15OC]

Statements

Emergency Agriculture Assistance: Representative Goodlatte, Committee on Agriculture (House), S2450 [13FE]

Summaries

Voluntary Public Access and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program Act (S. 1840), S14274 [7NO]

Tables

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations (H.R. 2673), H6610-H6617 [14JY]

———conference report, H12768-H12812, H12816-H12822 [8DE]

Committee on the Budget (Senate) scoring of conference report on H.R. 2673, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations, S16108 [9DE]

Committee on the Budget (Senate) scoring of H.R. 2673, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations, S13956 [5NO]

Communities dependent on the Essential Air Service Program, S7798 [12JN]

Environmental Quality Incentives Program unfunded applications by State, S14135 [6NO]

State distribution of Indian reservation road funding, S4515 [27MR]

Testimonies

Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Wenonah Hauter, Public Citizen (organization), H6621 [14JY]

Texts of

H. Res. 458, same-day consideration of conference report on H.R. 2673, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations and H.J. Res. 79, continuing appropriations, H12181 [21NO]

H. Res. 465, same-day consideration of consideration of conference report on H.R. 2673, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations and consideration of H.J. Res. 79, continuing appropriations, H12754 [8DE]

H. Res. 473, consideration of conference report on H.R. 2673, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations, H12760 [8DE]

H.R. 2465, Family Farmer Bankruptcy Relief Act, H5673 [23JN]

H.R. 2673, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations, S14366-S14378 [10NO], H6625-H6633 [14JY]

H.R. 3038, Health Care Safety Net Amendments Technical Corrections Act, H9049 [1OC]

S. 27, prohibit meat packers from owning, feeding, or controlling livestock intended for slaughter, S42 [7JA]

S. 73, National Center for Social Work Research Act, S68 [7JA]

S. 75, Rural Preventive Health Care Training Act, S70 [7JA]

S. 172, Rural Health Care Equity Act, S856-S859 [15JA]

S. 325, increase competition and transparency among packers required to report information on the price and quantity of livestock purchased, S2052 [6FE]

S. 336, expand reimbursement for travel expenses of covered Armed Forces beneficiaries for specialty care to cover specialized dental care, S2122 [10FE]

S. 365, Rural Four-Lane Highway Safety and Development Act, S2345 [12FE]

S. 379, Medicare Incentive Payment Program Improvement Act, S2363 [12FE]

S. 532, Colonias Gateway Initiative Act, S3188 [5MR]

S. 586, Round II EZ/EC Flexibility Act, S3507 [11MR]

S. 725, Tribal Transportation Program Improvement Act, S4516 [27MR]

S. 903, Renewal Community Employment Credit Improvement Act, S5357 [11AP]

S. 964, Small Community and Rural Air Service Revitalization Act, S5609-S5611 [30AP]

S. 1085, Reclamation Rural and Small Community Water Enhancement Act, S6710 [20MY]

S. 1146, Three Affiliated Tribes Health Facility Compensation Act, S13317 [27OC]

S. 1163, condition receipt of certain State revolving funds on the restriction of development or construction of new colonias that lack necessary infrastructure along the U.S.-Mexico border, S7190 [2JN]

S. 1165, American Indian Reservation Transportation Improvement Program Act, S7191 [2JN]

S. 1185, Rural Provider Equity Act, S7397-S7401 [4JN]

S. 1203, Distance Education and Online Learning Act, S7495 [5JN]

S. 1205, Rural Teacher Housing Act, S7496 [5JN]

S. 1220, Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act, S7626 [10JN]

S. 1263, Rural Economic Investment Act, S7881 [13JN]

S. 1294, Community Telecommunications Planning Act, S8241 [19JN]

S. 1323, Family Farmer Bankruptcy Relief Act, S8442 [24JN]

S. 1333, tax treatment of certain expenses of rural letter carriers relative to the business use of a personal vehicle, S8570 [25JN]

S. 1354, Cape Fox Land Entitlement Adjustment Act, S8747-S8749 [26JN]

S. 1380, Rural Universal Service Equity Act, S9122 [9JY]

S. 1534, Rural Post Office and Community Preservation Act, S10666 [31JY]

S. 1644, limit the number of packer-owned swine that certain packers may slaughter in any calendar year, S11834 [23SE]

S. 1732, Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act, S12609 [15OC]

S. 1796, Rural Renaissance Act, S13517-S13520 [29OC]

S. 1840, Voluntary Public Access and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program Act, S14273 [7NO]

S. 1883, Frontier Healthcare Access Act, S15068 [18NO]

S. 1905, Rural Teacher Housing Act, S15291 [20NO]

S. 1907, Rural Safety Act, S15297-S15299 [20NO]

S. 1920, extend reenactment period for chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code relative to family farmers, S16063 [25NO]

S. 1998, Essential Air Service Preservation Act, S16137 [9DE]

S. Con. Res. 22, provide affordability and ensure a competitive North American market for softwood lumber, S3751 [13MR]

S. Res. 96, Resolution To Expand Access to Community Health Centers (REACH) Initiative, S4179 [20MR]

Transcripts

Telephone Conversation on Custom Farming: Thomas C. Dorr and Paul Dorr, S14979 [18NO]