RURAL AREAS related term(s) Agriculture; Suburban areas; Urban Areas

Amendments

Agriculture: continue certain programs (S. 3240), S3787, S3789, S3790, S3791, S3792, S3793, S3794, S3795, S3796, S3797 [6JN], S3845, S3846, S3847, S3848, S3849, S3850, S3851, S3852, S3853, S3854, S3855, S3856, S3857, S3867, S3868, S3869 [7JN], S3903, S3904, S3905, S3906, S3907, S3908, S3909, S3910, S3911, S3912, S3913, S3916, S3917, S3918, S3919, S3921, S3922, S3923, S3924 [11JN], S3962, S3963, S3985, S3986, S3987, S3989, S3991, S3992, S3993, S3994, S3997, S3998, S3999, S4000, S4001, S4099, S4102, S4103, S4104, S4106, S4107 [12JN], S4126, S4127, S4153, S4154, S4155, S4156, S4157, S4158, S4159, S4160 [13JN], S4208, S4209, S4210, S4211, S4212, S4213, S4216, S4217 [14JN], S4243, S4244, S4245, S4246, S4247 [18JN], S4266, S4267, S4268, S4269, S4270, S4271, S4272, S4273, S4274, S4275, S4276, S4277, S4278, S4279, S4280, S4281, S4306 [19JN], S4334, S4335, S4336, S4337, S4338, S4339, S4340, S4341, S4343, S4344, S4345, S4346, S4347, S4348, S4349, S4350, S4351, S4352, S4353, S4354, S4355, S4356, S4357 [20JN], S4381, S4382, S4383, S4384, S4385, S4389 [21JN]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 5973), H3977 [21JN]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 5973), consideration (H. Res. 697), H4025 [26JN]

Appropriations: making for Dept. of Defense and other Federal departments and agencies, rescind unobligated stimulus funds, and reduce discretionary spending (H.R. 1), S8052, S8073, S8084, S8085 [17DE], S8117, S8126, S8128, S8130, S8141, S8142, S8143, S8144, S8147, S8149, S8150, S8151 [18DE], S8164, S8178, S8184, S8195, S8207, S8208, S8212, S8223, S8224 [19DE], S8305, S8306, S8307 [20DE], S8366, S8368, S8369, S8372 [21DE], S8429, S8430, S8431, S8432, S8433, S8434, S8442 [27DE], S8462, S8463, S8469, S8472, S8476, S8496, S8508 [28DE]

Articles and editorials

Congress Delays Farm Bill as Drought Spreads, S5456 [26JY]

Joe Liles, S6787 [14NO]

Bills and resolutions

Agriculture: codify exemptions for farming, forestry, and ranching relative to permit requirements for dredged or fill material (see H.R. 4278), H1739 [28MR]

——— continue certain programs (see S. 3240), S3631 [24MY] (see H.R. 6083), H4684 [9JY]

——— continue certain programs (H.R. 6083), consideration (see H. Res. 739), H5201 [24JY]

——— restore integrity to and strengthen payment limitation rules for commodity payments and benefits to farmers (see S. 2217), S1932 [21MR]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (see S. 2375), S2821 [26AP] (see H.R. 5973), H3914 [20JN]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 5973), consideration (see H. Res. 697), H3974 [21JN]

America’s Agricultural Heritage Partnership: reauthorize in Iowa (see S. 2133), S1049 [27FE]

Children and youth: prevent childhood obesity (see H.R. 6461), H6231 [20SE]

Denali Commission: reauthorize and modify membership (see S. 3590), S6545 [20SE] (see H.R. 6478), H6231 [20SE]

Dept. of Agriculture: authorize loans to certain entities that will make loans to consumers to implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures to promote energy cost savings and rural development (see S. 2216), S1932 [21MR]

——— clarify maximum distance between Farm Service Agency county offices for purposes of the closure or relocation of a county office (see S. 3258), S3688 [4JN] (see H.R. 4330), H1804 [29MR]

——— establish a program to generate dependable economic activity for counties and local governments containing National Forest System land through a management-focused approach (see H.R. 6009), H3975 [21JN]

——— establish grant program within rural broadband program (see S. 2275), S2243 [29MR]

——— establish the Community-Supported Agriculture Promotion Program (see H.R. 4012), H693 [9FE]

——— improve energy programs (see S. 2270), S2242 [29MR] (see H.R. 5955), H3732 [18JN]

——— improve the program of access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas (see S. 2298), S2496 [18AP]

——— reauthorize and improve the Rural Energy for America Program (see S. 2225), S2001 [22MR] (see H.R. 5825), H3103 [17MY]

——— require evaluation of county workload assessments prior to closure or relocation of a county or local Farm Service Agency office (see H.R. 4313), H1803 [29MR]

Dept. of HHS: assist States in operating Restoring the Doctors of Our Country Through Scholarships (RDOCS) programs to increase availability of health care services in health professional shortage areas (see H.R. 6400), H5999 [13SE]

——— protect and preserve access of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers and extend discounts under the 340B Drug Pricing Program (see H.R. 5194), H2271 [27AP] (see H.R. 5624), H2443 [8MY]

Dept. of HUD: reform laws relative to small public housing agencies (see S. 3538), S6339 [13SE]

Dept. of Justice: issue a report on the Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission (see S. 3373), S4893 [11JY]

Dept. of the Interior: use designated funding to pay for construction of authorized rural water projects (see S. 3385), S5047 [16JY]

Depts. of the Interior and Agriculture: extend stewardship end result contracting authority for projects to improve land management and reduce fire hazards in national forests (see H.R. 4396), H1977 [18AP]

Education: authorize a competitive grant program to implement and evaluate digital learning in rural locales (see H.R. 5732), H2645 [10MY]

FCC: ensure rule adopting methodology for establishing benchmarks for Universal Service Fund high-cost loop support shall have no force or effect and require report on an alternative methodology (see H.R. 6526), H6275 [21SE]

Floods: analyze challenges faced by agricultural areas and rural communities designated as an area having special flood hazards for purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program (see H.R. 6034), H4156 [27JN]

Food, Conservation, and Energy Act: extend with certain modifications and exceptions (see H.R. 6228), H5330 [30JY]

Housing: improve housing for educators, public safety officers, and medical providers, and their households (see S. 3278), S3838 [7JN]

Housing Act: revise census data and population requirements for areas to be considered rural areas (see S. 3541), S6340 [13SE] (see H.R. 6416), H6060 [14SE]

Medicare: extend Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program and increase payments under the Medicare low-volume hospital program (see S. 2620), S2924 [7MY] (see H.R. 5943), H3699 [8JN]

——— permit pass-through payment of costs for nurse anesthetist services in critical access hospitals notwithstanding the reclassification of such hospitals (see H.R. 6146), H5008 [18JY]

——— protect and preserve access of beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers (see H.R. 3859), H373 [1FE]

Postal Regulatory Commission: allow to set aside Postal Service determinations to close or consolidate postal facilities that would deny service to rural areas, communities, or small towns (see H.R. 4335), H1804 [29MR]

Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor: redesignate as Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor (see H.R. 6440), H6151 [19SE]

Rural Electrification Act: amend (see H.R. 5896), H3480 [5JN]

Safe Drinking Water Act: reauthorize provision of technical assistance to small public water systems (see S. 2166), S1459 [7MR]

South Dakota: facilitate completion of the Mni Wiconi Rural Water Supply System (see S. 3464), S5732 [31JY]

Taxation: provide exception to additional estate tax for severance of standing timber harvested consistent with a forest management plan (see H.R. 6439), H6151 [19SE]

Telecommunications: encourage spectrum licensees to make unused spectrum available to rural and smaller carriers to expand wireless coverage (see S. 3516), S5978 [2AU]

Television: provide certain rural counties with the ability to receive television broadcast signals of their choice (see H.R. 4469), H2030 [19AP]

Cloture motions

Agriculture: continue certain programs (S. 3240), motion to proceed, S3714 [5JN], S3807 [7JN]

Appropriations: making for Dept. of Defense and other Federal departments and agencies, rescind unobligated stimulus funds, and reduce discretionary spending (H.R. 1), S8195 [19DE], S8340 [21DE]

Letters

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies appropriations: Stephen E. Blaire and Richard E. Pates, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, H4021 [26JN]

Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act: several agricultural organizations, S6313 [13SE]

Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act: Mike and Lori Peskey, H6154 [20SE]

——— several Representatives, S5455 [26JY]

Motions

Agriculture: continue certain programs (S. 3240), S3714 [5JN], S3803 [7JN], S3962 [12JN], S4124, S4125 [13JN], S4350, S4352 [20JN]

Appropriations: making for Dept. of Defense and other Federal departments and agencies, rescind unobligated stimulus funds, and reduce discretionary spending (H.R. 1), S8016 [13DE], S8195 [19DE], S8341, S8342 [21DE], S8464, S8482 [28DE]

Remarks in House

Agriculture: continue certain programs (H.R. 6083), H4660 [9JY], H4688, H4708 [10JY], H4790, H4810 [11JY], H4830, H4831 [12JY], H4919 [18JY], H5026 [19JY], H5139 [24JY], H5211 [25JY], H5296, H5321, H5322 [26JY], H5537 [1AU], H5645, H5653–H5658, H5697 [2AU], H5749–H5752 [10SE], H5776, H5853, H5854 [11SE], H5865 [12SE], H5927, H5931, H5932, H5944 [13SE], H6042–H6044 [14SE], H6072, H6098 [19SE], H6154, H6167, H6171, H6225 [20SE], H6258, H6261, H6263 [21SE], H6348 [14NO], H6378, H6391 [15NO], H6400 [16NO], H6539, H6563 [30NO], H6661, H6662 [5DE], H6787 [13DE], E1232 [11JY], E1649 [21SE]

——— continue certain programs (S. 3240), H3710 [18JN], H3743 [19JN]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 5973), H3946 [21JN]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 5973), consideration (H. Res. 697), H4017–H4027 [26JN]

Appropriations: making for Dept. of Defense and other Federal departments and agencies, rescind unobligated stimulus funds, and reduce discretionary spending (H.R. 1), H5945 [13SE], H7478 [31DE], H7567–H7578 [2JA]

Bardstown, KY: Rand McNally & Co., and USA Today ‘‘Most Beautiful Small Town in America’’ designee, E1284 [19JY]

Dept. of Agriculture: reform payment limitation rules for farm subsidies, H2603 [10MY]

Dept. of Education: report on extent to which certain high-need students are being taught by alternative route teachers-in-training who have been deemed ‘‘highly qualified’’, E1710 [19OC]

Dept. of HHS: assist States in operating Restoring the Doctors of Our Country Through Scholarships (RDOCS) programs to increase availability of health care services in health professional shortage areas (H.R. 6400), E1524 [13SE]

Dept. of Homeland Security: cell phone communications in rural border areas funding, H3534, H3535 [6JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: allow veterans in rural areas to visit an approved non-departmental health care provider in their area, H3327, H3328 [31MY]

Depts. of Transportation and HUD: prohibit funding for grants under the Dept. of Transportation livable communities program and the Dept. of HUD sustainable communities program, H4141, H4142 [27JN]

Economy: impact of continuation of certain agricultural programs on jobs, H5854 [11SE]

FAA: Essential Air Service Program funding, H448 [3FE], H4039, H4040 [26JN], H4146 [27JN]

FCC: ensure changes to transparency and procedures do not impede implementation of rules to ensure broadband access in rural areas, H1622 [27MR]

Gainesville, TX: Rand McNally & Co., and USA Today ‘‘Most Patriotic Small Town in America’’ designee, E13030 [24JY]

Hudson River School: recognize contributions of painters to the U.S., E1793 [16NO]

Montrose, CA: tribute to Montrose Search and Rescue Team, H4789 [11JY]

Mosby Farm (business): King County, WA, Executive Rural Small Business of the Year award finalist, E1524 [13SE]

Mount View-Edgewood Water Co.: National Rural Water Association National Great American Water Taste Test Gold Medal award recipient, E247 [27FE]

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association: tribute to Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, H3710 [18JN]

Postal Regulatory Commission: allow to set aside Postal Service determinations to close or consolidate postal facilities that would deny service to rural areas, communities, or small towns (H.R. 4335), E593 [19AP]

Postal Service: create a moratorium on closure or consolidation of postal facilities, H2723 [16MY], H3587 [7JN]

——— decision to maintain services to rural areas, H2638 [10MY]

——— lift moratorium on closure or consolidation of postal facilities, H2456 [9MY]

——— prohibit closing of any post office which results in more than a certain distance between any 2 post offices (H.R. 3370), H2458 [9MY], H2638 [10MY]

Remarks in Senate

Agriculture: continue certain programs, S3164, S3168 [15MY], S3230 [16MY], S8613, S8622 [1JA]

——— continue certain programs (S. 3240), S3950–S3952, S3959–S3969 [12JN], S4118–S4135, S4137–S4141, S4143 [13JN], S4166–S4173, S4181, S4195–S4199 [14JN], S4223, S4225, S4235 [18JN], S4262–S4283 [19JN], S4313, S4334–S4359 [20JN], S4380–S4405, S4407 [21JN], S4455 [25JN], S4833 [10JY], S5175, S5201 [19JY], S5339, S5342, S5343, S5366 [25JY], S5441, S5443, S5447, S5454–S5457 [26JY], S5718 [31JY], S5810, S5836 [1AU], S5944–S5947, S5956, S5967 [2AU], S6038, S6039 [10SE], S6087 [11SE], S6312–S6315, S6325 [13SE], S6405 [19SE], S6499 [20SE], S6725 [13NO], S6768 [14NO], S7414, S7415 [5DE], S7669, S7670 [6DE], S7735 [11DE], S7786 [12DE], S8117, S8118 [18DE], S8169 [19DE], S8238, S8242 [20DE], S8346 [21DE], S8580–S8583 [31DE]

——— continue certain programs (S. 3240), motion to proceed, S3714–S3717 [5JN], S3739, S3749–S3756, S3758–S3760, S3762–S3764, S3767 [6JN], S3803–S3808, S3816–S3818, S3824, S3828, S3831–S3834 [7JN], S3875–S3877, S3890–S3892 [11JN], S3932, S3935–S3937, S3945, S3949 [12JN]

——— continue certain programs (S. 3240), motion to recommit, S4350–S4352 [20JN]

——— continue certain programs (S. 3240), unanimous-consent agreement, S4235 [18JN], S4313, S4351 [20JN]

——— continue certain programs (S. 3240), unanimous-consent request, S3961 [12JN], S4125, S4126 [13JN]

——— reduce programs funding to 2008 levels, S4350, S4351 [20JN]

——— restore integrity to and strengthen payment limitation rules for commodity payments and benefits to farmers (S. 2217), S1935 [21MR]

——— strengthen rural communities and foster the next generation of farmers and ranchers, S4270 [19JN]

Appropriations: making for Dept. of Defense and other Federal departments and agencies, rescind unobligated stimulus funds, and reduce discretionary spending (H.R. 1), S8050–S8060, S8062 [17DE], S8112, S8116–S8118, S8124–S8131, S8133–S8135 [18DE], S8161, S8163, S8164, S8177, S8178, S8184–S8197 [19DE], S8236, S8243–S8245, S8261 [20DE], S8341, S8342 [21DE], S8425–S8427, S8429–S8445 [27DE], S8462–S8474, S8476–S8497, S8519 [28DE], S8544 [30DE], S8639, S8640 [2JA]

——— making for Dept. of Defense and other Federal departments and agencies, rescind unobligated stimulus funds, and reduce discretionary spending (H.R. 1), unanimous-consent agreement, S8340 [21DE], S8445 [27DE]

Bureau of Reclamation: water projects funding, S4767 [29JN]

Crime: provide transportation to crisis centers for battered women in rural areas, S3272, S3273 [17MY]

Dakota Rural Action (organization): anniversary, S6735 [13NO]

Dept. of Agriculture: allow communities with rural development project loans to apply for certain other types of loans, S4281 [19JN]

——— allow community land grant-mercedes and land grant councils access to rural development program funding, S4391 [21JN]

——— allow frontier communities access to rural development program funding, S4391 [21JN]

——— Biomass Crop Assistance Program funding, S4173 [14JN]

——— biomass research and development funding, S4172 [14JN]

——— eliminate farm subsidies, S3935 [12JN], S4195 [14JN]

——— improve agricultural land easements, S4358 [20JN]

——— improve energy programs, S4396 [21JN]

——— limit crop insurance premium subsidies based on adjusted gross income of the producer, S3950–S3952 [12JN], S4263 [19JN], S4355, S4356 [20JN]

——— limit farm subsidy payments based on adjusted gross income of the producer, S4273 [19JN]

——— oppose promotion of Meatless Monday initiative in departmental newsletter, S5359 [25JY], S5441, S5442 [26JY]

——— permanently establish the Office of Tribal Relations, S4266 [19JN]

——— protect agricultural and forested lands from urban development, S4357, S4358 [20JN]

——— reauthorize and improve the Rural Energy for America Program (S. 2225), S2002 [22MR]

——— reform Federal grazing fees, S3935 [12JN]

——— repeal Forest Legacy Program, S4340 [20JN]

——— require Risk Management Agency and FCIC to use plain language and improve website to make crop insurance more accessible, S4279 [19JN]

——— revise Housing Act requirements for areas to be considered rural areas, S4348 [20JN]

——— rural broadband telecommunications services programs funding, S4279 [19JN], S4335, S4343, S4358 [20JN]

——— Rural Energy for America Program funding, S4170 [14JN]

——— Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program funding, S4390 [21JN]

——— State Rural Development Partnership funding, S4347 [20JN]

Dept. of Education: require report on the extent to which certain children are being taught by alternative route teachers in training who are deemed highly qualified, S6596 [21SE]

Dept. of the Interior: provide full funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program and the Secure Rural Schools and Community-Self Determination Act, S1525–S1528 [8MR], S1609 [13MR], S1651 [14MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: ensure veterans jobs corps program counselors are available to veterans in rural areas, S6315 [13SE]

Depts. of Agriculture and Transportation: conduct study of rural transportation issues relative to movement of agricultural products and domestically produced renewable fuels and resources for electricity production, S4350 [20JN]

Depts. of the Interior and Agriculture: extend stewardship end result contracting authority for projects to improve land management and reduce fire hazards in national forests, S3891 [11JN], S3968 [12JN], S4399 [21JN]

Economy: express that proposed agricultural legislation not manipulate prices or intefere with the free economy, S4280 [19JN]

EPA: establish a temporary prohibition against revising any national ambient air quality standard for coarse particulate matter and limit Federal regulation of nuisance dust in certain areas, S3932 [12JN]

FAA: Essential Air Service Program funding, S382 [7FE]

Hudson River School: recognize contributions of painters to the U.S., S7034 [28NO], S8506 [28DE]

Liles, Joe: National Rural Water Association Man of the Year Award recipient, S6787 [14NO]

Nevada: tribute to Healthy Communities Coalition, S4890 [11JY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: impact of implementation on health care, coverage, costs, and accessibility for seniors living in rural and frontier areas receiving Medicare, S6308 [13SE]

Postal Regulatory Commission: require evaluation of area mail processing studies if proposed closure or consolidation of postal facility is appealed, S2644 [24AP], S2694 [25AP]

Postal Service: consider effect of closure or consolidation of post offices on voting by mail and provide for a moratorium on closure or consolidation of post offices to protect voting by mail, S2641 [24AP]

——— create a moratorium on closure or consolidation of postal facilities, S2526 [19AP], S2684, S2691 [25AP]

——— create a moratorium on the closure of rural post offices and ensure future closures meet certain conditions, S2463–S2466, S2475, S2478, S2479, S2488 [18AP], S2528–S2530 [19AP], S2587 [23AP], S2643 [24AP]

——— encourage colocation of an employee at a commercial or government entity to maintain local access to postal services, S2642 [24AP]

——— maintain services to rural areas, S2562 [23AP]

——— modify process for closure or consolidation of post offices and postal facilities, S2638, S2639 [24AP], S2694 [25AP]

——— prohibit closure or consolidation of a postal facility that is more than a certain distance from the nearest postal facility, S2685 [25AP]

Richland County, WI: anniversary of Richland County Fair, S4819 [10JY]

Rural Health Education Network: anniversary, S3625 [24MY]

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act: reauthorize, S666 [15FE]

South Dakota: facilitate completion of the Mni Wiconi Rural Water Supply System (S. 3464), S5737 [31JY]

Telecommunications: encourage spectrum licensees to make unused spectrum available to rural and smaller carriers to expand wireless coverage (S. 3516), S5988 [2AU]

Reports filed

Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Committee on Appropriations (House) (H.R. 5973) (H. Rept. 112–542), H3914 [20JN]

——— Committee on Appropriations (Senate) (S. 2375) (S. Rept. 112–163), S2819 [26AP]

Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Senate) (S. 3240), S3630 [24MY]

——— Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Senate) (S. 3240) (S. Rept. 112–203), S6062 [10SE]

Consideration of H.R. 5973, Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 697) (H. Rept. 112–545), H3974 [21JN]

Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act: Committee on Agriculture (House) (H.R. 6083) (H. Rept. 112–669), H5999 [13SE]

Preserving Rural Resources Act: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House) (H.R. 4278) (H. Rept. 112–683), H6230 [20SE]

Protecting Main Street End-Users From Excessive Regulation Act: Committee on Agriculture (House) (H.R. 3527) (H. Rept. 112–391), H639 [8FE]

Rulings of the Chair

Appropriations: making for Dept. of Defense and other Federal departments and agencies, rescind unobligated stimulus funds, and reduce discretionary spending (H.R. 1), S8464, S8482 [28DE]

Texts of

H. Res. 697, consideration of H.R. 5972, Depts. of Transportation and HUD and related agencies appropriations and H.R. 5973, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations, H4017 [26JN]

S. 2217, Rural America Preservation Act, S1936–S1938 [21MR]

S. 2225, Dept. of Agriculture Rural Energy for America Program reauthorization and improvement, S2003 [22MR]

S. 3240, Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act, S4483–S4592 [25JN]