RURAL AREAS see also Agriculture; Suburban areas; Urban Areas

Amendments

Commission on Native Children: establish (S. 246), S3381 [1JN]

Medicare: extend the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals (S. 1461), S6610 [10SE]

Articles and editorials

How the Internet of Things Is Improving Transportation and Logistics, H7595 [3NO]

Mapping IoT Into Today’s Urban Transportation Systems, H7596 [3NO]

New EPA Clean-Air Rules Threaten Rural Power Co-ops, S5904 [27JY]

Bills and resolutions

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (see S. 1800), S5170 [16JY] (see S. 2129), S7123 [5OC] (see H.R. 3049), H5171 [14JY]

Alaska: reverse designation of certain communities as nonrural (see H.R. 2388), H3252 [15MY]

Appalachian Regional Commission: reauthorize and establish a High-Speed Broadband Development Initiative (see S. 863), S1891 [25MR]

Armed Forces: expand use of telehealth under TRICARE program for active servicemembers, their dependents, retirees, and veterans (see H.R. 2725), H4136 [10JN]

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection: provide for hardship duty pay for border patrol agents and customs and border protection officers assigned to highly-trafficked rural areas (see S. 2367), S8494 [8DE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: delay enforcement of physician supervision regulations for critical access hospitals pending completion of analysis of impact of such regulations (see H.R. 170), H42 [6JA]

Commission on Native Children: establish (see S. 246), S420 [22JA] (see H.R. 2751), H4343 [12JN]

Dept. of Agriculture: authorize a summer electronic benefits transfer for children program under the National School Lunch Program and allow State flexibility in providing summer meals (see S. 1966), S6380 [5AU]

——— establish Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives (see H.R. 3152), H5401 [22JY]

——— exempt from inspection the slaughter of animals and the preparation of carcasses conducted at a custom slaughter facility (see H.R. 3187), H5465 [23JY]

——— extend final planting date for grain sorghum, corn, and cotton under Federal crop insurance polices due to extreme weather conditions that have adversely affected field conditions for planting (see H.R. 1580), H1899 [24MR]

——— generate dependable economic activity for counties and local governments containing National Forest System land by establishing a program for local, sustainable forest management (see H.R. 2316), H3211 [14MY]

——— limit crop insurance premium subsidies based on adjusted gross income of the producer (see S. 345), S736 [3FE]

——— prohibit paying of premium subsidies on crop insurance policies based on actual market price of agricultural commodity at time of harvest (see S. 463), S926 [11FE] (see H.R. 892), H981 [11FE]

——— reauthorize Farm to School Program (see S. 569), S1118 [25FE] (see H.R. 1061), H1163 [25FE]

Dept. of Education: aid gifted and talented and high-ability learners by empowering teachers (see S. 363), S772 [4FE] (see H.R. 2960), H4861 [7JY]

——— establish a grant program to ensure that students in high-need schools have equal access to a quality education delivered by an effective, diverse workforce (see H.R. 2149), H2768 [30AP]

——— establish a scholarship program and loan forgiveness for rural educators and provide professional development grants for rural schools (see S. 2190), S7413 [21OC]

——— establish Office of Rural Education Policy (see H.R. 3369), H5766 [29JY]

——— increase out-of-school access to digital learning resources for eligible students to increase student and educator engagement (see S. 1606), S4297 [18JN] (see H.R. 3582), H6178 [18SE]

Dept. of Energy: provide loans and grants for solar installations in low-income and underserved areas (see S. 1713), S4686 [7JY] (see H.R. 3041), H5116 [13JY]

Dept. of HHS: designate maternity care health professional shortage areas (see S. 628), S1246 [3MR] (see H.R. 1209), H1565 [3MR]

——— extend advanced education nursing grants to support clinical nurse specialist programs (see H.R. 2713), H4135 [10JN]

Dept. of Homeland Security: conduct a northern border threat analysis (see S. 1808), S5210 [21JY]

Dept. of HUD: reform laws relative to small public housing agencies (see S. 2292), S8020 [17NO]

Dept. of the Interior: authorize the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System and the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System (see S. 1552), S4103 [11JN] (see H.R. 3867), H7346 [29OC]

——— restore mandatory funding status of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program (see S. 517), S983 [12FE] (see S. 1925), S6296 [4AU] (see S. 2164), S7219 [7OC] (see H.R. 3257), H5588 [28JY]

——— use designated funding to pay for construction of authorized rural water projects (see S. 1365), S2971 [18MY]

Dept. of the Treasury: prohibit a bailout of a State, city, or municipality and designate economic freedom zones (see S. 790), S1629 [18MR]

Dept. of Transportation: modify criteria for selecting communities to participate in the Small Community Air Service Development Program (see H.R. 1084), H1163 [25FE]

——— require that broadband conduits be installed as a part of certain highway construction projects (see S. 2163), S7219 [7OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: clarify distance requirements relative to eligibility of veterans to receive medical care and services at non-departmental facilities (see H.R. 1096), H1368 [26FE]

——— extend requirement to furnish health care at non-departmental facilities to veterans who live more than a certain distance from the closest departmental facility that furnishes the necessary care (see S. 374), S772 [4FE] (see H.R. 941), H1034 [12FE]

——— improve provision of health care to veterans in rural and highly rural areas (see S. 2265), S7912 [10NO]

——— make permanent the pilot program regarding enhanced contract care authority for the health care needs of veterans located in highly rural areas (see H.R. 3709), H6935 [8OC]

——— study feasibility of entering into public-private partnerships to improve veterans access to medical facilities in densely populated and rural communities (see H.R. 4125), H8411 [19NO]

——— use authorities to furnish health care at non-departmental facilities to veterans who live more than a certain distance from the closest departmental facility that furnishes the necessary care (see S. 207), S347 [21JA] (see H.R. 572, 577), H639 [27JA] (see H.R. 1909), H2354 [21AP]

Depts. of the Interior and Agriculture: reverse designation of certain communities in Alaska as nonrural (see S. 1154), S2567 [30AP]

Developing countries: authorize aid to reduce poverty and hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, promote agricultural-led economic growth, and build resilience among vulnerable populations (see S. 1252), S2730 [7MY] (see H.R. 1567), H1898 [24MR]

1890 Land-Grant Institutions Quasquicentennial Recognition Day: designate (see S. Res. 232), S5928 [27JY]

Employment: continue job creation and the promotion of investment through improvements to targeted employment areas (see S. 2115), S7102 [1OC]

EPA: repeal certain rule for new residential wood heaters (see H.R. 1986), H2463 [23AP]

FAA: use enplanement numbers that preceded enactment of certain pilot regulations to calculate Airport Improvement Program apportionments (see S. 239), S420 [22JA] (see H.R. 853), H917 [10FE]

FCC: allow skilled nursing facilities to apply for support from Universal Service Fund Rural Health Care Program (see S. 1916), S6239 [3AU] (see H.R. 4111), H8411 [19NO]

——— encourage spectrum licensees to make unused spectrum available to rural and smaller carriers to expand wireless coverage (see S. 417), S858 [9FE]

——— ensure the integrity of voice communications and prevent discrimination among areas in the delivery of such communications by requiring providers to register and comply with basic quality standards (see S. 827), S1660 [19MR] (see H.R. 2566), H3561 [21MY]

——— exempt application of joint sales agreement (JSA) attribution rule in case of existing agreements in order to protect local television broadcasting (see S. 1182), S2599 [4MY] (see H.R. 3148), H5330 [21JY]

——— exempt broadband Internet access service providers from Federal universal service contributions (see H.R. 1712), H2110 [26MR]

——— exempt small business providers of broadband Internet access from net neutrality enhanced transparency requirements (see S. 2283), S7966 [16NO]

——— provide for equitable distribution of Universal Service funds to rural States (see S. 734), S1495 [12MR]

FEMA: improve Federal disaster relief and emergency assistance to rural areas by improving access to the Individual Assistance Program (see H.R. 4243), H9306 [11DE]

Financial institutions: enhance ability of community financial institutions to foster economic growth and serve their communities, boost small businesses, and increase individual savings (see S. 812), S1660 [19MR]

——— expand the purposes of advances and collateral available to community development financial institutions (see H.R. 1355), H1635 [13MR]

——— improve regulation and the mortgage finance system (see H.R. 1389), H1720 [17MR]

——— modify requirements for community financial institutions relative to certain mortgage loan rules (see H.R. 1529), H1847 [23MR]

——— provide regulatory relief to community financial institutions (see H.R. 1233), H1609 [4MR]

——— provide relief to community banks and promote their access to capital (see S. 1816), S5210 [21JY] (see H.R. 1523), H1847 [23MR]

——— provide sensible relief to community financial institutions and protect consumers (see S. 1491), S3678 [3JN] (see H.R. 2642), H3877 [3JN]

Food: decrease incidence of food waste (see H.R. 4184), H9025 [7DE]

Forest Service: expedite management activities developed by a collaborative process on certain lands, require posting of bonds for certain legal challenges, and authorize additional funding sources for such activities (see H.R. 2644), H3878 [3JN]

Forests: provide cancellation ceilings for stewardship end result contracting projects (see S. 326), S673 [30JA]

FRS: establish Consumer Financial Protection Bureau application process for interested parties to apply for an area to be designated as a rural area (see S. 871), S2040 [26MR] (see H.R. 1259), H1610 [4MR]

Grambling State University: require eligibility to receive funds as a land-grant university (see H.R. 3022), H5088 [10JY]

Health: recognize that access to hospitals and other health care providers for patients in rural areas is essential to the survival and success of communities (see H. Res. 398), H5769 [29JY]

Health care professionals: improve educational opportunities for physician assistants (see H.R. 3944), H8150 [5NO]

——— provide incentives to foreign-born physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved communities (see S. 1189), S2650 [5MY]

——— provide incentives to foreign-born physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved communities or VA hospitals (see H.R. 1272), H1610 [4MR]

Marathon County, WI: exempt certain highways from vehicle weight limitations for certain logging vehicles (see H.R. 3778), H7088 [21OC]

Medicaid: extend to physician assistants eligibility for incentive payments for adoption and use of certified electronic health records (see H.R. 1345), H1625 [10MR]

Medicare: apply budget neutrality on a State-specific basis in the calculation of hospital wage index floor for non-rural areas (see H.R. 1479), H1802 [19MR]

——— clarify policy relative to physician supervision of therapeutic hospital outpatient services (see S. 257), S541 [27JA] (see H.R. 1611), H2032 [25MR]

——— designate Rural Emergency Hospitals to sustain emergency services in rural areas (see S. 1648), S4544 [23JN]

——— extend Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program and increase payments under the Medicare low-volume hospital program (see S. 332), S697 [2FE] (see H.R. 663), H703 [2FE]

——— extend the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals (see S. 1461), S3309 [22MY] (see H.R. 2878), H4650 [24JN]

——— extend the rural add-on payment in the home health benefit (see S. 839), S1708 [23MR] (see S. 2389), S8602 [10DE]

——— extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program (see S. 607), S1201 [27FE] (see H.R. 672), H754 [3FE]

——— improve how beneficiaries are assigned under the shared savings program by also basing such assignment on primary care services from federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics (see S. 2261), S7860 [9NO]

——— improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (see H.R. 1012), H1073 [17FE]

——— increase access to ambulance services and reform payments for such services (see S. 377), S772 [4FE] (see H.R. 745), H812 [4FE]

——— provide coverage of pharmacist services in medically underserved areas (see S. 314), S653 [29JA] (see H.R. 592), H660 [28JA]

——— provide payment for anesthesia services by anesthesiologists in certain rural hospitals in the same manner as for services by anesthesiologist assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists (see H.R. 2138), H2767 [30AP]

——— remove the physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services (see S. 258), S541 [27JA] (see H.R. 169), H42 [6JA]

——— suspend implementation of zip code reclassifications for payment for ambulance services (see H.R. 817), H866 [9FE]

Medicare/Medicaid: enhance payments to rural health care providers (see H.R. 3225), H5523 [27JY]

——— improve payments for durable medical equipment (see S. 2312), S8160 [19NO]

——— provide a grace period for physicians and other health care providers in transitioning from the ICD–9 to the ICD–10 standard (see H.R. 2652), H3913 [4JN]

——— provide a safe harbor period for physicians and other health care providers in transitioning from the ICD–9 to the ICD–10 standard (see H.R. 3018), H5088 [10JY]

Native Americans: protect Indian and Native Alaskan voters by improving tribal access to polling places and voter registration and remove barriers to exercising the right to vote (see S. 1912), S6187 [30JY]

Postal Service: cap rural post office closures and consolidations and establish closure and consolidation guidelines (see H.R. 1885), H2307 [16AP]

——— improve, sustain, and transform (see S. 2051), S6809 [17SE]

——— improve provision of postal services to rural areas (see S. 1742), S4953 [9JY]

——— modernize and maintain post office network (see H. Res. 501), H7332 [28OC]

Real estate: protect private property rights by limiting the power of eminent domain (see H.R. 3013), H5029 [9JY]

Safe Drinking Water Act: reauthorize provision of technical assistance to small public water systems (see S. 611), S1201 [27FE] (see H.R. 2853), H4591 [23JN]

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act: reauthorize (see S. 517), S983 [12FE] (see S. 1925), S6296 [4AU] (see S. 2164), S7219 [7OC] (see H.R. 3257), H5588 [28JY]

Taxation: allow veterans a deduction for certain travel expenses to Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical centers for examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities (see S. 41), S57 [7JA]

——— clarify treatment of locum tenens physicians as independent contractors to help alleviate physician shortages in underserved areas (see S. 2371), S8494 [8DE]

——— make permanent the special rule for contributions of qualified conservation contributions (see S. 330), S697 [2FE] (see H.R. 641), H702 [2FE]

——— provide exclusion for assistance provided to certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness program participants (see S. 440), S900 [10FE] (see H.R. 3095), H5290 [16JY]

——— provide incentives for the establishment of supermarkets in certain underserved areas (see H.R. 1433), H1768 [18MR]

——— provide tax credit to teachers in rural or high unemployment areas or who achieve National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification (see S. 138), S100 [8JA] (see S. 1954), S6380 [5AU]

Telecommunications: encourage spectrum licensees to make unused spectrum available to rural and smaller carriers to expand wireless coverage (see H.R. 3103), H5290 [16JY]

——— increase regional telecommunications development (see H.R. 4160), H8970 [2DE]

——— support growth through deregulation, additional broadband deployment, commercial use of spectrum, high-speed data transmission, and intellectual property protection (see H. Res. 113), H1069 [13FE]

Telephones: improve service in rural areas and express that no entity may unreasonably discriminate against telephone users in those areas (see H. Res. 234), H2654 [29AP]

Transportation: allow States flexibility with safety standards for certain farm vehicles and drivers without jeopardizing Federal transportation funding (see H.R. 3473), H5941 [10SE]

Veterans: improve provision of medical care to veterans at critical access hospitals (see H.R. 4103), H8410 [19NO]

Water: reduce Federal, State, and local costs of providing high-quality drinking water to those residing in rural communities by facilitating greater use of cost-effective well water and alternative systems (see S. 1642), S4346 [22JN] (see H.R. 1160), H1498 [27FE] (see H.R. 3533), H6136 [17SE]

Letters

Dept. of HHS outreach to minority-serving institutions and rural colleges to ensure that health professionals from under-represented populations are aware of research opportunities: Michael L. Lomax, United Negro College Fund, Inc., H5079 [10JY]

EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric utility generating units: Senators McCain and Flake, S5905 [27JY]

Mortgage Servicing Asset Capital Requirements Act, Holding Company Registration Threshold Equalization Act, and Community Institution Mortgage Relief Act: James C. Ballentine, American Bankers Association, H5139 [14JY]

Remarks in House

Agriculture: importance of farmers, H149 [8JA]

——— reauthorize certain programs, H4547 [23JN]

Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc.: tribute to employees for efforts in rural electrification project in Haiti, E1751 [9DE]

Dept. of Agriculture: assessment of Regional Conservation Partnership Program projects, H586 [27JA]

——— reauthorize Farm to School Program (H.R. 1061), H7199, H7245 [27OC], E1547 [27OC], E1564 [29OC]

——— tribute to StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity, H9191 [9DE]

Dept. of Education: authorize a competitive grant program to implement and evaluate digital learning in rural locales, H1296, H1297 [26FE]

Dept. of HHS: conduct outreach to minority-serving institutions and rural colleges to ensure that health professionals from under-represented populations are aware of biomedical research opportunities, H5078–H5080 [10JY]

——— extend advanced education nursing grants to support clinical nurse specialist programs (H.R. 2713), H5187 [15JY]

Dept. of Homeland Security: conduct a northern border threat analysis (H.R. 455), H7316–H7319 [28OC]

——— require analysis of whether implementation of preclearance and pre-inspection at additional ports of entry along the northern border would prevent terrorists from entering the U.S., H7317 [28OC]

Dept. of Transportation: clarify eligibility of projects within national scenic areas for Federal funding, H7580, H7581 [3NO]

——— ensure surface transportation grants are awarded to rural and urban area projects in an equitable manner, H3835 [3JN]

——— submit report on potential of the Internet of Things to improve transportation services in rural, suburban, and urban areas, H7595–H7597 [3NO]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: prohibit funding to end, suspend, or relocate a health care facility that is the subject of an environmental impact statement, designated a national historic landmark, or located in a highly rural area, H2614 [29AP]

Developing countries: authorize aid to reduce poverty and hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, promote agricultural-led economic growth, and build resilience among vulnerable populations (H.R. 1567), E1460 [9OC]

Endangered Species Act: impact on rural economy, H148 [8JA]

EPA: prohibit funding to implement new energy efficiency standards for residential wood heaters, H4842 [7JY]

——— repeal final rule establishing standards for residential wood heaters, H8957 [2DE]

FAA: Essential Air Service Program funding, H3836, H3837 [3JN]

Fall River Mills, CA: Mayers Memorial Hospital recipient of Dept. of Agriculture rural development grant to address hospital and region’s most urgent needs, H5861 [9SE]

Food: decrease incidence of food waste (H.R. 4184), H9089 [9DE]

Forest Service: review management of the National Forest System and active forest management, H2667 [30AP], H9192–H9198 [9DE]

——— Volunteer Fire Assistance Program funding, H4785 [7JY]

FRS: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regulatory relief to community financial institutions, H9312 [15DE]

——— establish Consumer Financial Protection Bureau application process for interested parties to apply for an area to be designated as a rural area (H.R. 1259), H1571 [4MR], H2121–H2123 [13AP]

——— require Consumer Financial Protection Bureau conduct a study on potential costs and impact to rural consumers and businesses resulting from certain indirect auto financing guidance, H8310 [18NO]

Health care facilities: importance of hospitals and other health care providers in rural areas, H1179 [26FE]

Highway Beautification Act: anniversary, H6897 [8OC]

Idyllwild, CA: tribute to Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council, E595 [28AP]

Jones, Howard C.: Rural Economic Development (organization) Rural Leader of the Year award recipient, H6712 [30SE]

Marsh, John (Rob): Staff Care (company) Country Doctor of the Year award recipient, E138 [30JA]

Medicare: extend the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals (S. 1461), H9062 [8DE]

——— provide coverage of pharmacist services in medically underserved areas (H.R. 592), H7017, H7019, H7021 [20OC]

National Agriculture Day: observance, H1748 [18MR]

National Agriculture Week: observance, H1667 [17MR], H1792 [19MR]

National Farm to School Month: observance, H7245 [27OC]

National Rice Month: observance, H6213 [24SE], E1373 [28SE]

National Rural Health Day: observance, H8400 [19NO]

Nolin Electric Cooperative: tribute to employees for efforts in rural electrification project in Haiti, E1757 [10DE]

Owen Electric Cooperative: tribute to employees for efforts in rural electrification project in Haiti, H1774 [19MR], E365 [19MR]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: impact of implementation on health care, coverage, costs, and accessibility, H6717 [30SE]

Pedernales Electric Cooperative, Inc.: tribute to employees for efforts in rural electrification project in Haiti, E403 [25MR]

Poverty: efforts to address high-poverty areas, H709 [3FE]

Safe Drinking Water Act: reauthorize provision of technical assistance to small public water systems (S. 611), H8418–H8420 [30NO]

Sardis, MS: tribute to North Panola High School, E1101 [22JY]

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act: reauthorize, H233 [13JA], H669 [2FE], H2038 [26MR]

Taxation: make permanent the special rule for contributions of qualified conservation contributions, H1003, H1004, H1006, H1008, H1013 [12FE]

——— make permanent the special rule for contributions of qualified conservation contributions (H.R. 641), H872 [10FE]

——— provide incentives for the establishment of supermarkets in certain underserved areas (H.R. 1433), E363 [18MR]

Western States Trail Foundation: anniversary of Tevis Cup Ride, E1155 [29JY]

Remarks in Senate

Agriculture: impact of government regulations, S2961 [18MY]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (S. 2129), S7127 [5OC], S7130 [6OC]

Appalachian Regional Commission: anniversary, S1491 [12MR], S2037 [26MR], S2847 [13MY]

Arkansas: tribute to electric cooperative employees for efforts in rural electrification project in Guatemala, S4342 [22JN], S4543 [23JN]

Commission on Native Children: establish (S. 246), S422 [22JA], S3381–S3385 [1JN]

Dept. of Agriculture: Federal crop insurance funding, S7608, S7609 [29OC], S8341, S8363 [3DE]

——— reauthorize Farm to School Program (S. 569), S1120 [25FE]

Dept. of Education: Rural Education Achievement Program funding, S8458 [8DE]

Dept. of the Interior: modify spending-neutral reserve fund for Payments in Lieu of Taxes program at levels equivalent to property tax revenues lost due to the presence of Federal land, S2008 [26MR]

——— restore mandatory funding status of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program (S. 517), S992 [12FE]

Dept. of Transportation: establish Assistance for Major Projects Program, S5483 [23JY], S6052 [28JY]

——— require that broadband conduits be installed as a part of certain highway construction projects (S. 2163), S7221 [7OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to provide health care to veterans who have a geographic inaccessibility to care, S1848 [25MR], S1987 [26MR]

——— use authorities to furnish health care at non-departmental facilities to veterans who live more than a certain distance from the closest departmental facility that furnishes the necessary care (S. 207), S383, S384 [22JA], S730 [3FE], S1465 [12MR], S1848 [25MR], S3277 [22MY]

Depts. of Education and the Interior: conduct study on elementary and secondary education in rural or poverty areas of Indian country to identify Federal barriers that restrict tribes from implementing regional policies, S4814 [8JY]

Economy: impact of Government regulations, S5903 [27JY], S7145 [6OC], S7449 [22OC]

——— national objectives priority assignments, S1361–S1363 [10MR], S1565–S1567 [17MR]

1890 Land-Grant Institutions Quasquicentennial Recognition Day: designate (S. Res. 232), S6325 [4AU]

FCC: exempt small business providers of broadband Internet access from net neutrality enhanced transparency requirements (S. 2283), S7969 [16NO]

Financial institutions: provide sensible relief to community financial institutions and protect consumers (S. 1491), S5450 [22JY]

Graham, Casey: support search for veteran who went missing during snow machine ride in Alaska, S8874 [18DE]

Honduras: efforts to preserve La Cuidad Blanca archaeological site in La Mosquitia region, S1582 [17MR]

Medicare: designate Rural Emergency Hospitals to sustain emergency services in rural areas (S. 1648), S4546 [23JN], S4625 [25JN]

——— extend the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals (S. 1461), S6610 [10SE]

——— extend the rural add-on payment in the home health benefit (S. 839), S1711 [23MR]

——— extend the rural add-on payment in the home health benefit (S. 2389), S8604 [10DE]

——— improve how beneficiaries are assigned under the shared savings program by also basing such assignment on primary care services from federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics (S. 2261), S8834, S8835 [17DE]

Medicare/Medicaid: anniversary, S6108 [29JY]

National Rice Month: anniversary, S7208 [7OC]

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association: tribute to Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, S4247 [17JN]

Postal Service: improve, sustain, and transform (S. 2051), S6811–S6815 [17SE]

Poverty: improve circumstances to create opportunities for those living in abject poverty and implement criminal justice reforms, S2459 [28AP], S2662 [6MY]

Power resources: importance of energy innovation, S8139 [19NO]

Safe Drinking Water Act: reauthorize provision of technical assistance to small public water systems (S. 611), S3975 [9JN]

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act: reauthorize, S691 [2FE]

——— reauthorize (S. 517), S992 [12FE]

Taxation: provide exclusion for assistance provided to certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness program participants (S. 440), S902 [10FE]

——— provide tax credit to teachers in rural or high unemployment areas or who achieve National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification (S. 138), S104 [8JA]

Washington (State): anniversary of Mount St. Helens eruption, S2968 [18MY]

Reports filed

Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Committee on Appropriations (House) (H.R. 3049) (H. Rept. 114–205), H5171 [14JY]

——— Committee on Appropriations (Senate) (S. 1800) (S. Rept. 114–82), S5169 [16JY]

Commission on Native Children Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 246) (S. Rept. 114–39), S2759 [11MY]

Community Institution Mortgage Relief Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 1529) (H. Rept. 114–57), H2151 [13AP]

Conservation Easement Incentive Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 641) (H. Rept. 114–17), H865 [9FE]

Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (S. 611) (H. Rept. 114–346), H8409 [19NO]

——— Committee on Environment and Public Works (Senate) (S. 611) (S. Rept. 114–47), S2971 [18MY]

Helping Expand Lending Practices in Rural Communities Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 1259) (H. Rept. 114–60), H2151 [13AP]

Medicare Enforcement Instruction on Supervision Requirements for Outpatient Therapeutic Services in Critical Access and Small Rural Hospitals Extension: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 1461) (S. Rept. 114–109), S6186 [30JY]

Northern Border Security Review Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 1808) (S. Rept. 114–155), S7304 [19OC]

——— Committee on Homeland Security (House) (H.R. 455) (H. Rept. 114–232), H5587 [28JY]

Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 607) (S. Rept. 114–102), S6186 [30JY]

Statements

Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act: Several Veterinary and Animal Organizations, S902 [10FE]

Texts of

H.R. 455, Northern Border Security Review Act, H7316 [28OC]

H.R. 1259, Helping Expand Lending Practices in Rural Communities Act, H2122 [13AP]

S. 138, Incentives To Educate American Children (I TEACH) Act, S104 [8JA]

S. 246, Commission on Native Children Act, S3381–S3383 [1JN]

S. 569, Farm to School Act, S1121 [25FE]

S. 611, Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act, S3975 [9JN], H8418 [30NO]

S. 871, Helping Expand Lending Practices in (HELP) Rural Communities Act, S2048 [26MR]

S. 1461, extend Medicare enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals, S6610 [10SE]

S. 1461, Medicare enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals extension, H9063 [8DE]

S. 1552, Clean Water for Rural Communities Act, S4105 [11JN]

S. 2261, Rural ACO Provider Equity Act, S8835 [17DE]

S. 2283, Small Business Broadband Deployment Act, S7969 [16NO]

S. Res. 232, 1890 Land-Grant Institutions Quasquicentennial Recognition Day, S5933 [27JY]