RURAL AREAS related term(s) Agriculture; Suburban areas

Amendments

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2744), S10102, S10140, S10145 [15SE], S10175, S10183, S10200 [19SE], S10212, S10214, S10215, S10216, S10217, S10218, S10220, S10221, S10224, S10225, S10227, S10241, S10242, S10243, S10244, S10245 [20SE], S10264, S10270, S10271, S10272, S10273, S10275, S10276, S10277, S10278, S10280, S10281, S10284, S10286, S10309, S10310, S10311, S10312, S10313, S10314, S10315, S10316, S10317, S10318, S10319 [21SE], H4188, H4189 [7JN], H4223, H4224, H4225, H4227, H4237, H4238, H4243, H4244, H4245, H4247, H4252, H4257, H4263, H4264, H4265, H4266, H4268, H4269, H4270 [8JN]

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. 895), S13045 [16NO]

Analyses

Rationale for an Allied Health Reinvestment Act: Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions, S1806 [28FE]

Appointments

Conferees: H.R. 2744, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations, S10332 [22SE], H9011 [20OC]

Articles and editorials

Long Ride to Cowboy Hall of Fame, S5777 [23MY]

Bills and resolutions

Advancement Via Individual Determination (organization): anniversary (see H. Res. 576), H11035 [18NO]

Agriculture: encourage owners and operators of certain privately-held land to make their land available for access by the public under programs administered by States and tribal governments (see S. 548), S2244 [8MR] (see H.R. 1351), H1621 [16MR]

———promote use of anaerobic digesters by agricultural producers and rural small businesses to produce renewable energy and improve environmental quality (see H.R. 140), H76 [4JA]

———provide assistance to agricultural producers whose operations were severely damaged by hurricanes (see S. 2009), S12839 [15NO] (see H.R. 4330), H10226 [15NO]

———provide disaster assistance to agricultural producers for crop and livestock losses (see S. 1692), S9984 [13SE] (see H.R. 3754), H7860 [13SE]

———provide emergency assistance to agricultural producers who have suffered losses as a result of drought, Hurricane Katrina, and other natural disasters (see S. 1636), S9833 [8SE] (see S. 1804), S10796 [30SE] (see H.R. 3702), H7813 [8SE]

———provide producers on a farm with greater flexibility in selecting the crops to be planted on the base acres of the farm (see H.R. 2045), H2879 [3MY]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (see H.R. 2744), H4185 [7JN]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2744), consideration (see H. Res. 303), H4185 [7JN]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2744), consideration of conference report (see H. Res. 520), H9361 [27OC]

Alaska: improve sanitation in rural and native villages (see S. 1409), S8302 [14JY]

———provide habitable living quarters for educational employees, and their households, in rural areas located in or near Alaska Native Villages (see S. 1980), S12606 [9NO]

Aviation: clarify the definition of rural airports (see S. 170), S573 [26JA]

———promote greater access to air transportation (see H.R. 488), H285 [1FE]

Business and industry: enhance effectiveness of rural business financing programs (see H.R. 4342), H10501 [16NO]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: ensure the provision of services under the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to frail elders living in rural areas (see S. 1067), S5437 [18MY]

Colorado: provide environmental assistance to communities for water supply and treatment projects (see S. 1202), S6225 [8JN] (see H.R. 3521), H7557 [28JY]

Computers: encourage broadband technology deployment to rural areas (see S. 497), S1931 [2MR]

———expand computer and telecommunications advancements in rural areas (see H.R. 144), H76 [4JA]

Dept. of Agriculture: allow quick aid to producers in federally declared disaster areas (see S. 1776), S10513 [27SE] (see H.R. 1118), H983 [3MR]

———enhance national security by providing research, development, demonstration, administrative support, and market mechanisms for deployment and commercialization of biobased energy technologies and products (see S. 1210), S6298 [9JN]

———provide farm debt and program relief to African-American farmers who suffered discrimination in the administration of farm credit and benefit programs (see H.R. 3998), H8733 [6OC]

———reopen filing of claims by African-American farmers who suffered discrimination in the administration of farm credit and benefit programs (see H.R. 4398), H11033 [18NO]

Dept. of HHS: establish health empowerment zone programs in communities that disproportionately experience disparities in health status and health care (see H.R. 56), H73 [4JA]

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. 895), S4184 [25AP] (see H.R. 4418), H11034 [18NO]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: conduct a pilot program to improve access to health care for rural veterans (see H.R. 1741), H2394 [20AP]

———ensure adequate veterans' health care funding and conduct a pilot program to improve access to health care for rural veterans (see S. 963), S4547 [28AP]

———improve the Veterans Beneficiary Travel Program (see S. 996), S4936 [11MY] (see H.R. 3147), H5600 [30JN]

———provide grants to rural counties to improve advice and services to help veterans obtain earned benefits (see H.R. 3694), H7742 [7SE]

Education: national policy to improve system (see S. 15), S142 [24JA] (see S. 848), S3897 [19AP] (see H.R. 1681), H2148 [19AP]

———provide assistance for rural school districts (see S. 1036), S5219 [16MY]

———provide grants to rural local educational agencies to purchase new school buses (see S. 1311), S7377 [24JN]

Elementary and Secondary Education Act: amend relative to practicality and feasibility of transfer of students from certain schools (see S. 696), S3200 [5AP]

Employment: provide job creation and assistance (see H.R. 143), H76 [4JA]

FAA: preserve current level of Airport Improvement Program grants to certain primary airports in rural areas (see S. 1793), S10723 [29SE]

———preserve Essential Air Service Program (see S. 217), S647 [31JA]

———repeal local participation in Essential Air Service Program (see H.R. 1119), H983 [3MR]

FCC: reevaluate band plans for certain frequencies and reconfigure them to include spectrum to be licensed for small geographic areas (see S. 1767), S10424 [26SE]

FEMA: direct the President to designate a Small State Advocate (see H.R. 2338), H3260 [12MY]

Firefighters: promote wildland firefighter safety (see S. 906), S4257 [26AP]

Food Security Act: restore integrity to and strengthen payment limitation rules for commodity payments and benefits (see S. 385), S1413 [15FE] (see H.R. 1590), H1968 [13AP]

Health: expand access to affordable health care, strengthen health care safety net, and make services more available in rural and underserved areas (see S. 1225), S6404 [13JN]

———provide assistance for the development of indoor disease prevention and health promotion centers in urban and rural areas (see H.R. 2240), H3113 [10MY]

———provide grants for rural health information technology development activities (see S. 1952), S12237 [2NO]

Health care professionals: admission requirements for certain nonimmigrant nurses (see H.R. 248), H136 [6JA]

———establish demonstration programs to address shortages in rural areas (see H.R. 1654), H2101 [14AP]

———provide for education and training of allied health professionals in exchange for a service commitment at a facility with critical shortages of allied health professionals (see S. 473), S1794 [28FE]

———provide practitioners in rural areas with training in preventive health care (see S. 67), S143 [24JA]

Higher Education Act: clarify definition of a high need local educational agency and a Hispanic-serving institution, and eliminate the 2-year wait out period for certain grant recipients (see S. 1478), S8826 [25JY]

Historic building and sites: establish a national historic country store preservation program (see S. 1011), S5071 [12MY]

Housing Act: improve the rural housing loan guarantee program (see H.R. 2656), H4138 [26MY] (see H.R. 2750), H4186 [7JN]

———provide rural housing assistance to families affected by Hurricane Katrina (see H.R. 3895), H8348 [26SE]

Irrigation: reduce subsidies (see S. 1118), S5921 [25MY]

Juab County, UT: provide for conjunctive use of surface and ground water (see S. 1812), S10823 [3OC] (see H.R. 4013), H8807 [7OC]

Medicaid: recognize importance of prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers (see S. Con. Res. 65), S13161 [17NO] (see H. Con. Res. 231), H7561 [28JY]

Medicare: clarify congressional intent regarding counting of residents in a nonhospital setting (see S. 2071), S13361 [18NO] (see H.R. 4403), H11033 [18NO]

———enhance access of beneficiaries who live in medically underserved areas to critical primary and preventive health care benefits at federally qualified health centers (see S. 1593), S9468 [29JY] (see H.R. 1819), H2548 [26AP]

———extend reasonable cost contracts to expand the area in which plans offered under such contracts may operate and to apply certain provisions of Medicare Advantage program to such plans (see S. 1403), S8301 [14JY] (see H.R. 4050), H8808 [7OC]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (see S. 933), S4546 [28AP] (see H.R. 2350), H3261 [12MY]

———improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (see H.R. 868), H718 [16FE]

———improve the provision of telehealth services (see S. 1909), S11768 [24OC]

———make improvements to payments to ambulance providers in rural areas (see S. 1108), S5851 [24MY] (see H.R. 2525), H3768 [23MY]

———pay ambulance suppliers the full costs of providing such services (see S. 1109), S5851 [24MY] (see H.R. 2014), H2737 [28AP]

———provide geographic equity in fee-for-service reimbursement for providers (see H.R. 1627), H1969 [13AP]

———remove cap on disproportionate share adjustment percentages for certain rural hospitals (see H.R. 4585), H12048 [16DE]

———require Medicare Advantage organizations to pay for critical access hospital services and rural health clinic services at a greater percentage than regular Medicare payment rates (see H.R. 880), H791 [17FE]

———temporarily increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas (see S. 300), S1049 [7FE] (see H.R. 11), H71 [4JA]

National Center for Social Work Research: establish (see S. 90), S144 [24JA]

Packers and Stockyards Act: prohibit packers from owning, feeding, or controlling livestock intended for slaughter (see S. 818), S3735 [15AP]

———prohibit use of certain anti-competitive forward contracts (see S. 960), S4546 [28AP] (see H.R. 4257), H10038 [8NO]

Public lands: clarify method to determine fair market value of rights-of-way to prevent unreasonable increases in deployment costs of critical infrastructure (see H.R. 906), H792 [17FE]

Roads and highways: complete construction of the Appalachian Development Highway System (see S. 514), S2004 [3MR]

———extend a certain high priority corridor in Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming (see S. 549), S2244 [8MR] (see H.R. 1253), H1370 [10MR]

———extend Corridor O of the Appalachian Development Highway System from its current southern terminus at I-68 near Cumberland, MD, to Corridor H, which stretches from Weston, WV, to Strasburg, VA (see S. 719), S3278 [6AP]

———improve safety of rural roads (see H.R. 954), H794 [17FE]

———provide from the Highway Trust Fund additional funding for Indian reservation roads (see S. 690), S3147 [4AP]

Rural Renaissance Corp.: establish (see S. 502), S2003 [3MR]

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act: reauthorize (see S. 267), S886 [2FE] (see H.R. 517), H348 [2FE]

South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.: anniversary (see H. Res. 300), H4142 [26MY]

SouthEast Crescent Authority: establish (see S. 1865), S11313 [7OC] (see H.R. 20), H72 [4JA]

Taxation: allow a credit to holders of qualified bonds issued to finance certain rural development projects (see S. 1253), S6658 [15JN]

———allow a first time homebuyer credit for the purchase of principal residences in rural areas (see H.R. 883), H791 [17FE]

———exclude from gross income interest received on loans secured by agricultural real property (see S. 238), S738 [1FE] (see H.R. 399), H234 [26JA]

———expand and modernize agricultural bond programs to assist young farmers and ranchers (see H.R. 651), H411 [8FE]

———permit interest on federally guaranteed water, wastewater, and essential community facilities loans to be tax exempt in order to improve such facilities in rural areas (see S. 157), S436 [25JA] (see H.R. 2378), H3331 [16MY]

———provide a credit to physicians who serve a substantial number of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas (see H.R. 3299), H5913 [14JY]

———provide a credit to primary health providers who establish practices in health professional shortage areas (see S. 824), S3817 [18AP]

———provide tax credit to teachers in rural or high unemployment areas or who achieve National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification (see S. 1533), S9284 [28JY]

Telecommunications: equitably distribute universal service support throughout rural areas (see S. 284), S978 [3FE]

———expand contribution base and establish separate fund within the universal service fund to support deployment of broadband services in unserved areas (see S. 1583), S9467 [29JY]

———expand rural access to broadband services (see H.R. 1479), H1777 [5AP]

———preserve and protect the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability and services (see S. 1294), S7293 [23JN]

Television: ensure full access to digital television in areas served by low-power television (see S. 1600), S9468 [29JY]

Towns: reward the hard work and risk of individuals who live in and help preserve small, rural towns (see S. 675), S2995 [17MR]

Veterans: establish a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in remote rural areas (see S. 1191), S6154 [7JN]

———improve access to health care for rural veterans (see H.R. 4309), H10156 [10NO]

———improve services for rural veterans (see H.R. 4355), H10502 [16NO]

Conference reports

Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations (H.R. 2744), H9204-H9240 [26OC]

Letters

Clarify treatment of multiemployer defined benefit plans: several Senators, S12912 [16NO]

Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act: Jordan Cohen, Association of American Medical Colleges, S13378 [18NO]

———Philip Shettle, American Osteopathic Association, S13377 [18NO]

———William K. Mygdal, Penny Tenzer, Warren Newton, and Perry Dickinson, Academic Family Medicine Advocacy Alliance, S13378 [18NO]

Medicare Payment Adjustment to Community Health Centers (PATCH) Act: Daniel R. Hawkins, Jr., National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc., S9515 [29JY]

National Security and Bioenergy Investment Act: Brent Erickson, Biotechnology Industry Organization, S6311 [9JN]

———David Morris, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, S6312 [9JN]

———Howard A. Learner, Environmental Law & Policy Center, S6312 [9JN]

———Karen Wayland, Natural Resources Defense Council, S6312 [9JN]

———Leon Corzine, National Corn Growers Association, Neal Bredehoeft, American Soybean Association, and Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association, S6311 [9JN]

———Reid Detchon, Energy Future Coalition, S6311 [9JN]

———Tim Pawlenty and Kathleen Sebelius, Governor's Ethanol Coalition, S6311 [9JN]

National security enhancement through various means allowing for the deployment and commercialization of biobased energy technologies and products: Brent Erickson, Biotechnology Industry Organization, S6808 [20JN]

———David J. Frederickson, National Farmers Union, S6808 [20JN]

———David Morris, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, S6808 [20JN]

———Howard A. Learner, Environmental Law & Policy Center, S6808 [20JN]

———Karen Wayland, Natural Resources Defense Council, S6807 [20JN]

———Reid Detchon, Energy Future Coalition, S6808 [20JN]

———Tim Pawlenty and Kathleen Sebelius, Governors' Ethanol Coalition, S6807 [20JN]

———several agricultural producer associations, S6807 [20JN]

Permit National Dairy Promotion and Research Board diversion of funds for activities that improve public health and the environment: Idaho congressional delegation, S10265 [21SE]

Preserve current level of Airport Improvement Program grants to certain primary airports in rural areas: Bill B. Owen, Mayor of Roswell, NM, S10735 [29SE]

Lists

Organizations supporting S. 473, Allied Health Reinvestment Act, S1806 [28FE]

Virtual primary airports facing potential Airport Improvement Program grant reductions, S10735 [29SE]

Motions

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2744), H8940 [19OC]

Remarks in House

Advancement Via Individual Determination (organization): anniversary (H. Res. 576), E2406 [18NO]

Agriculture: Federal farm policies, H813 [1MR]

———provide that every State receive an equal allocation of cotton, tobacco, and rice funding, H4271 [8JN]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: across-the-board funding reduction, H4264, H4265 [8JN]

———funding, H12275 [18DE]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2744), H4208-H4273 [8JN], H4301 [9JN]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2744), amendment process, H4251 [8JN]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2744), conference report, H9381-H9394 [28OC], E2366 [15NO]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2744), consideration (H. Res. 303), H4201-H4208 [8JN]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2744), consideration of conference report (H. Res. 520), H9367-H9373 [28OC]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2744), motion to instruct conferees, H8940-H8946 [19OC]

———prohibit promulgation of regulations without consideration of their effect on the competitiveness of U.S. businesses, H4268 [8JN]

Budget: allocation of funds, H383-H398 [8FE]

Chester County, PA: tribute to Uwchlan Ambulance Corps, E749 [22AP]

Dept. of Agriculture: Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program funding, H4224 [8JN]

Dept. of HHS: community health centers funding, H4993, H5060, H5061 [23JN]

———establish health empowerment zone programs in communities that disproportionately experience disparities in health status and health care (H.R. 56), H7928 [14SE]

———rural health care and dentistry programs funding, H5055 [23JN], H11547 [14DE]

———rural outreach grants and rural health research programs funding through reductions in OSHA funding, H5051-H5053 [23JN]

Dept. of Homeland Security: limit the number of grants available under the Urban Area Security Initiative, H3231-H3233 [12MY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: conduct a pilot program to improve access to health care for rural veterans (H.R. 1741), H5562 [30JN]

Economy: economic development funding following mining company closures, H10628 [17NO]

Federal aid programs: drug treatment and prevention programs funding, E1065 [23MY]

FEMA: direct the President to designate a Small State Advocate (H.R. 2338), E954 [12MY]

Georgetown County, SC: tribute, E1198 [9JN]

Granby, CO: anniversary, E2530 [14DE]

Health: expand access to affordable health care, strengthen health care safety net, and make services more available in rural and underserved areas, H5222 [27JN]

Housing: make definition of ``rural'' for housing-related Government-sponsored enterprises consistent with definition contained in the Housing Act, H9179 [26OC]

Housing Act: provide rural housing assistance to families affected by Hurricane Katrina (H.R. 3895), H8668-H8670 [6OC]

Information services: conduct feasibility study to expand high-speed Internet access to rural areas, H1051 [9MR]

Kensington, KS: tribute to Kensington Community Store, E746 [22AP]

Lithuanian Kaimus Fund Project: tribute, H5367 [29JN], E1381 [28JN]

Lone Star, SC: anniversary of Good Hope Picnic, E1596 [25JY]

Longford, KS: tribute to Longford Water Co., LLC, E774 [26AP]

Louisiana: address certain agricultural issues, H1946 [13AP]

Malakoff, TX: anniversary, E822 [28AP]

Mann, W.C. (Jiggs): Cowboy Roundup, USA (organization) Rancher of the Year award recipient, E1272 [17JN]

Medicaid: recognize importance of prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers (H. Con. Res. 231), E1681 [29JY]

Petroleum: economic impact of increasing oil prices and overall energy costs on farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, H9246 [26OC]

Ramona, KS: tribute, E2270 [3NO]

Rawhide Boys Ranch (organization): anniversary, E1350 [24JN]

Self Help Enterprises (organization): anniversary, E1583 [22JY]

Somerset County, PA: tribute, E1569 [21JY]

South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.: anniversary (H. Res. 300), H8879-H8881 [18OC], E2098 [17OC]

Stephenitch, Willie: BLM Making a Difference award recipient, E910 [9MY]

Summerdale, AL: anniversary, E852 [3MY]

Telecommunications: expand rural access to broadband services (H.R. 1479), E585 [7AP]

Texas: anniversary of the Y.O. Ranch, E2525 [14DE]

Vermont: anniversary of Community Action Programs, E843 [3MY]

———tribute to volunteer firefighters, E1363 [27JN]

Washington County, AL: anniversary of Frank and Ocllo Boykin Hunting Lodge, E2385 [17NO]

Wayne County, NY: anniversary of Wayne County Fair, E1591 [25JY]

Remarks in Senate

Adel, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9824 [8SE]

Agriculture: change effective date for counties in States declared agriculture disasters to use the acreage for harvesting or grazing, S10277, S10278 [21SE]

———encourage owners and operators of certain privately-held land to make their land available for access by the public under programs administered by States and tribal governments (S. 548), S5296 [17MY]

———ensure legislation allowing cuts in agriculture programs receives full consideration and debate in the Senate under regular order, S2903-S2907, S2926 [17MR]

———Federal farm policies, S1153 [9FE]

———provide assistance to agricultural producers who have suffered losses as a result of Hurricane Katrina, S13984 [19DE]

———provide disaster assistance to agricultural producers for crop and livestock losses, S12043 [28OC]

———provide disaster assistance to agricultural producers for crop and livestock losses (S. 1692), star print, S10391 [22SE]

———provide emergency assistance to agricultural producers who have suffered losses as a result of drought, Hurricane Katrina, and other natural disasters, S10276, S10277 [21SE]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2744), S10080-S10103 [15SE], S10173-S10176 [19SE], S10210-S10227 [20SE], S10264, S10275-S10288 [21SE], S10327-S10332 [22SE]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2744), conference report, S12219-S12228 [2NO], S12287-S12291 [3NO], S12399 [4NO]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2744), conference report—unanimous-consent agreement, S12145 [1NO]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2744), unanimous-consent agreement, S10223 [20SE]

———redirect certain funds for relief for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina, S10272 [21SE]

———reform Federal budget procedures, impose spending safeguards, combat waste, fraud, and abuse, and account for accurate Government agency costs, S10278, S10279 [21SE]

———require appropriations conference report inclusion of limitations, directives and earmarks, S10280 [21SE]

Alaska: improve sanitation in rural and native villages (S. 1409), S8326 [14JY]

———provide habitable living quarters for educational employees, and their households, in rural areas located in or near Alaska Native Villages (S. 1980), S12609 [9NO], S13306 [18NO]

Alexander, ND: anniversary, S10291 [21SE]

Ammon, ID: anniversary, S11418 [17OC]

Aviation: clarify the definition of rural airports (S. 170), S579 [26JA]

Bedford, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9825 [8SE]

Bridges: off-system bridges funding, S4468, S4469 [28AP]

Cedar Falls, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9829 [8SE]

Central City, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9828 [8SE]

Charles City, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9824 [8SE]

Colorado: provide environmental assistance to communities for water supply and treatment projects (S. 1202), S6234 [8JN]

Computers: encourage broadband technology deployment to rural areas (S. 497), S1943 [2MR]

Dept. of Agriculture: enhance national security by providing research, development, demonstration, administrative support, and market mechanisms for deployment and commercialization of biobased energy technologies and products (S. 1210), S6305 [9JN]

———funding, S1070 [8FE], S1153 [9FE], S14078 [20DE]

———require coordination with the Dept. of Energy to produce a comprehensive report on the impact of high gasoline prices on farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, S10328 [22SE]

———Rural Housing Service rental assistance programs funding, S10278, S10279 [21SE]

Dept. of Energy: grant program to aid local governments, municipal utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and not-for-profit agencies funding, S7281 [23JN]

Dept. of Justice: Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program funding, S11121 [5OC]

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. 895), S4185 [25AP], S7805 [30JN], S13045 [16NO]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: ensure adequate veterans' health care funding and conduct a pilot program to improve access to health care for rural veterans (S. 963), S6400 [13JN]

———improve the Veterans Beneficiary Travel Program (S. 996), S4939 [11MY]

Depts. of Labor, HHS, and Education, and related agencies: across-the-board funding reduction, S13600-S13603, S13605, S13607 [15DE]

Dubuque, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9828 [8SE]

Education: national policy to improve system (S. 15), S111, S127, S130 [24JA], S546 [26JA]

———national policy to improve system (S. 848), S3957 [19AP], S4038 [20AP]

———provide grants to rural local educational agencies to purchase new school buses (S. 1311), S7378 [24JN]

Elementary and Secondary Education Act: amend relative to practicality and feasibility of transfer of students from certain schools (S. 696), S3203 [5AP]

Elkader, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9828 [8SE]

FAA: preserve current level of Airport Improvement Program grants to certain primary airports in rural areas, S11616 [20OC]

———preserve current level of Airport Improvement Program grants to certain primary airports in rural areas (S. 1793), S10734 [29SE]

———preserve Essential Air Service Program (S. 217), S670 [31JA]

Farm Aid, Inc.: tribute to Farm Aid Concert, S10716 [29SE]

FCC: reevaluate band plans for certain frequencies and reconfigure them to include spectrum to be licensed for small geographic areas (S. 1767), S10426 [26SE]

Firefighters: promote wildland firefighter safety (S. 906), S4260 [26AP]

Food Security Act: restore integrity to and strengthen payment limitation rules for commodity payments and benefits (S. 385), S1425 [15FE]

Greenfield, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9827 [8SE]

Health: expand access to affordable health care, strengthen health care safety net, and make services more available in rural and underserved areas (S. 1225), S6407-S6409 [13JN]

———grant for inovative programs to address dental workforce needs in rural and underserved communities, S11906 [26OC], S11958 [27OC]

———provide grants for rural health information technology development activities (S. 1952), S12240 [2NO]

Health care professionals: provide for education and training of allied health professionals in exchange for a service commitment at a facility with critical shortages of allied health professionals (S. 473), S1805 [28FE]

———provide practitioners in rural areas with training in preventive health care (S. 67), S245 [24JA]

Higher Education Act: clarify definition of a high need local educational agency and a Hispanic-serving institution, and eliminate the 2-year wait out period for certain grant recipients (S. 1478), S8828 [25JY]

Historic building and sites: establish a national historic country store preservation program (S. 1011), S5073 [12MY]

Irrigation: reduce subsidies (S. 1118), S5927 [25MY]

Jewell, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9827 [8SE]

Juab County, UT: provide for conjunctive use of surface and ground water (S. 1812), S10826 [3OC]

Lincoln County, WV: anniversary of Lincoln Primary Care Center, S7816 [30JN]

Medicaid: ensure that rural remote pharmacies receive reimbursements for enrollees' prescriptions, S12325 [3NO]

———recognize importance of prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers (S. Con. Res. 65), S13185 [17NO]

Medicare: clarify congressional intent regarding counting of residents in a nonhospital setting (S. 2071), S13377 [18NO]

———enhance access of beneficiaries who live in medically underserved areas to critical primary and preventive health care benefits at federally qualified health centers (S. 1593), S9514 [29JY]

———extend reasonable cost contracts to expand the area in which plans offered under such contracts may operate and to apply certain provisions of Medicare Advantage program to such plans (S. 1403), S8317 [14JY]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (S. 933), S4549 [28AP]

———improve the provision of telehealth services (S. 1909), S11769 [24OC]

———make improvements to payments to ambulance providers in rural areas (S. 1108), S5852 [24MY]

———temporarily increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas (S. 300), S1053 [7FE]

Medora, ND: tribute to North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, S5777 [23MY]

National Center for Social Work Research: establish (S. 90), S257 [24JA]

National Dairy Promotion and Research Board: permit diversion of funds for activities that improve public health and the environment, S10264-S10266 [21SE]

National objectives: education, health access, and health outreach programs funding, S2831, S2832 [16MR]

National Public Lands Day: observance, S10228 [20SE]

North Dakota: tribute to health care professionals, S9153 [27JY]

Packers and Stockyards Act: prohibit use of certain anti-competitive forward contracts (S. 960), S4572 [28AP]

Pensions: clarify treatment of multiemployer defined benefit plans, S12911 [16NO]

Puerto Rico: eligibility of certain municipalities for loans and grants programs in the Rural Development mission area, S10175 [19SE]

Roads and highways: complete construction of the Appalachian Development Highway System (S. 514), S2023-S2025 [3MR]

———extend Corridor O of the Appalachian Development Highway System from its current southern terminus at I-68 near Cumberland, MD, to Corridor H, which stretches from Weston, WV, to Strasburg, VA (S. 719), S3288 [6AP]

———provide from the Highway Trust Fund additional funding for Indian reservation roads (S. 690), S3151 [4AP]

Rural Renaissance Corp.: establish (S. 502), S2006 [3MR]

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act: reauthorize (S. 267), S898-S900 [2FE], S1112 [8FE]

Sigourney, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9826 [8SE]

Store City, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9826 [8SE]

Taxation: allow a credit for rural commuters, S5027-S5029 [12MY]

———income tax exclusion for certain gasoline costs of rural carpools, S6992-S6994 [22JN]

———permit interest on federally guaranteed water, wastewater, and essential community facilities loans to be tax exempt in order to improve such facilities in rural areas (S. 157), S484 [25JA]

———provide tax credit to teachers in rural or high unemployment areas or who achieve National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification (S. 1533), S9297 [28JY]

Telecommunications: equitably distribute universal service support throughout rural areas (S. 284), S985 [3FE]

———expand contribution base and establish separate fund within the universal service fund to support deployment of broadband services in unserved areas (S. 1583), S9505-S9507 [29JY]

———preserve and protect the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability and services (S. 1294), S7298, S7299 [23JN]

Television: ensure full access to digital television in areas served by low-power television, S14211 [21DE]

———ensure full access to digital television in areas served by low-power television (S. 1600), S9520 [29JY]

Towns: reward the hard work and risk of individuals who live in and help preserve small, rural towns (S. 675), S3056 [17MR]

University of North Dakota: anniversary of School of Medicine and Health Sciences, S10035 [14SE]

Valley Junction, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9826 [8SE]

Veterans: improve access to health care for rural veterans, S10356 [22SE]

Waterloo, IA: Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Main Street Iowa program grant recipient, S9825 [8SE]

Reports filed

Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Committee of Conference (H.R. 2744) (H. Rept. 109-255), H9275 [26OC]

———Committee on Appropriations (House) (H.R. 2744) (H. Rept. 109-102), H4185 [7JN]

———Committee on Appropriations (Senate) (H.R. 2744) (S. Rept. 109-92), S7428 [27JN]

Consideration of Conference Report on H.R. 2744, Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 520) (H. Rept. 109-257), H9361 [27OC]

Consideration of H.R. 2744, Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 303) (H. Rept. 109-105), H4185 [7JN]

Rural and Native Alaskan Villages Sanitation Improvement: Committee on Environment and Public Works (Senate) (S. 1409) (S. Rept. 109-159), S11768 [24OC]

Rural Water Supply Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 895) (S. Rept. 109-148), S11558 [19OC]

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act Reauthorization (H.R. 517) (H. Rept. 109-117), H4354 [9JN]

Resolutions by organizations

Preserve current level of Airport Improvement Program grants to Roswell International Air Center: Roswell, NM, City Council, S10735 [29SE]

Rulings of the Chair

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2744), H4233, H4237, H4244, H4264, H4267, H4270, H4271 [8JN]

Statements

Bush Administration Budget Proposal: Congressional Black Caucus, H386 [8FE]

Summaries

Bush Administration FY 2006 Housing Budget—Continuing the Assault on the Most Vulnerable, H385 [8FE]

National Historic Country Store Preservation Act (S. 1011), S5075 [12MY]

Tables

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations (H.R. 2744), H4209-H4217 [8JN]

———conference report, H9382-H9389 [28OC]

Committee on the Budget (Senate) scoring of H.R. 2744, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations, S10175 [19SE]

Texts of

H. Res. 300, South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., anniversary, H8879 [18OC]

H. Res. 303, consideration of H.R. 2744, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations, H4201 [8JN]

H. Res. 520, consideration of conference report on H.R. 2744, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies appropriations, H9367 [28OC]

H.R. 2744, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations, S10080-S10100 [15SE], S10441-S10453 [26SE]

H.R. 3895, Rural Housing Hurricane Relief Act, H8668 [6OC]

S. 15, Quality Education for All Act, S174-S183 [24JA]

S. 67, Rural Preventive Health Care Training Act, S246 [24JA]

S. 90, National Center for Social Work Research Act, S257 [24JA]

S. 157, permit interest on federally guaranteed water, wastewater, and essential community facilities loans to be tax exempt in order to improve such facilities in rural areas, S484 [25JA]

S. 217, Essential Air Service Preservation Act, S670 [31JA]

S. 267, Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act reauthorization, S899 [2FE]

S. 284, Rural Universal Service Equity Act, S986 [3FE]

S. 385, Rural America Preservation Act, S1426 [15FE]

S. 473, Allied Health Reinvestment Act, S1807-S1810 [28FE]

S. 497, Broadband Rural Revitalization Act, S1944-S1946 [2MR]

S. 502, Rural Renaissance Act, S2007-S2009 [3MR]

S. 690, American Indian Reservation Transportation Improvement Program Act, S3151 [4AP]

S. 696, Rural Schools Geography Act, S3204 [5AP]

S. 895, Rural Water Supply Act, S4186-S4189 [25AP], S13045-S13053 [16NO]

S. 1011, National Historic Country Store Preservation Act, S5074 [12MY]

S. 1202, Rural Colorado Water Infrastructure Act, S6234 [8JN]

S. 1210, National Security and Bioenergy Investment Act, S6306-S6311 [9JN]

S. 1253, Rural Renaissance Act II, S6662-S6664 [15JN]

S. 1294, Community Broadband Act, S7298 [23JN]

S. 1311, Bus Utility and Safety in School Transportation Opportunity and Purchasing Act, S7378 [24JN]

S. 1403, Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act, S8318 [14JY]

S. 1409, improve water sanitation in Alaskan rural and native villages, S8326 [14JY]

S. 1478, Improving Educational Opportunities for All Act, S8829 [25JY]

S. 1583, Universal Service for the 21st Century Act, S9506 [29JY]

S. 1793, preserve current level of Airport Improvement Program grants to certain primary airports in rural areas, S10735 [29SE]

S. 1952, Critical Access to Health Information Technology Act, S12241 [2NO]

S. 1980, Rural Teacher Housing Act, S12610 [9NO]

S. 2009, Agriculture Hurricane Recovery Act, S12844-S12847 [15NO]

S. 2071, Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act, S13377 [18NO]

S. Con. Res. 65, recognize importance of Medicaid prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers, S13184 [17NO]