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

Amendments

Depts. of Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, HUD, and VA, FDA, EPA, science, and military construction: making appropriations (H.R. 3055), S5951, S5978–S6046 [22OC], S6098–S6133 [23OC], S6165–S6175 [24OC], S6183, S6185, S6186, S6194–S6204 [28OC], S6248–S6254 [29OC], S6306 [30OC], S6311–S6315, S6321 [31OC], S6722, S6723 [20NO], S6734 [21NO], H4780, H4804 [19JN], H4940, H4941, H4943, H4944, H4945, H4960 [20JN], H8972, H9035 [19NO]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), consideration (H. Res. 445), H4787 [19JN]

Bills and resolutions

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (see S. 2522), S5602 [19SE] (see H.R. 265), H280 [8JA] (see H.R. 3164), H4348 [6JN]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 265), consideration (see H. Res. 28), H280 [8JA]

Alcoholic beverages: recognize contributions of American Viticultural Areas and winegrowing regions (see H. Res. 642), H8259 [18OC]

American Farm Bureau Federation: anniversary (see S. Res. 39), S800 [31JA]

——— anniversary of national convention (see H. Res. 45), H602 [15JA]

Animals: authorize assistance under certain rural development programs for establishment or expansion of animal care facilities or veterinary practices in rural areas (see H.R. 1651), H2614 [8MR]

BLM: clarify that permits are not required for oil and gas activities conducted on non-Federal surface estate to access subsurface mineral estate that is less than 50 percent federally owned (see H.R. 1650), H2614 [8MR]

CDC: award grants to eligible counties for use of mobile clinics and distance learning and telemedicine to diagnose and treat children with asthma in rural areas and medically underserved communities (see H.R. 4548), H8079 [27SE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: expand use of global payments to rural hospitals (see S. 2157), S4947 [18JY]

——— extend enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals (see S. 895), S2042 [27MR]

Colorado Farm Bureau Federation: anniversary (see S. Res. 424), S6605 [14NO]

Community development: promote development of smart cities through investment in smart infrastructure (see S. 1398), S2770 [9MY] (see H.R. 2636), H3679 [9MY] (see H.R. 3156), H4348 [6JN]

Credit: clarify exclusion for seller-financers from the definition of mortgage originator to improve access to affordable housing in rural communities and promote safe seller financing transactions (see H.R. 1036), H1458 [7FE]

DEA: allow community addiction treatment facilities and community mental health facilities to register to dispense controlled substances through telemedicine (see S. 2244), S5062 [24JY] (see H.R. 4131), H7481 [30JY]

Dept. of Agriculture: award grants to support and encourage public-private partnerships in Appalachia that will improve regional infrastructure, encourage entrepreneurship, and create jobs (see H.R. 178), H207 [3JA]

——— establish Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration and Rural Future Partnership Fund to invest in rural areas to achieve their preferred future and maximize contributions to the U.S. (see S. 2704), S6155 [24OC] (see H.R. 4874), H8538 [28OC]

——— exempt from inspection the slaughter of animals and preparation of carcasses conducted at a custom slaughter facility (see S. 1620), S3059 [22MY] (see H.R. 2859), H4063 [21MY]

——— grant priority for broadband deployment assistance to areas that are unserved (see H.R. 2661), H3726 [10MY]

——— improve access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas, including by encouraging provision of broadband loans and grants to increase broadband service in emerging harbor projects (see S. 2385), S5248 [31JY] (see H.R. 5486), H12210 [18DE]

——— include Rural Development Voucher Program as a covered housing program relative to Violence Against Women Act (see H.R. 1310), H2042 [19FE]

——— make local livestock and meat procurement for school lunch programs a priority and include ranching educational activities in Farm to School Program (see H.R. 3090), H4312 [4JN]

——— make Rural Utilities Service grants for collection of broadband infrastructure data by local governments, community organizations, electric or telephone cooperatives, and small Internet providers (see S. 3094), S7156 [18DE] (see H.R. 4642), H8110 [11OC]

——— offer persistent poverty counties and political subdivisions of such counties the opportunity to have rural development loans restructured (see H.R. 2228), H3253 [10AP]

——— provide assistance to manage farmer and rancher stress and mental health of individuals in rural areas (see S. 2599), S5793 [15OC] (see H.R. 4820), H8456 [23OC]

——— provide rental assistance to low-income tenants in certain multifamily rural housing projects and develop and implement a plan for preserving affordability of rural rental housing (see H.R. 3620), H5272 [5JY]

——— provide rental assistance to low-income tenants of certain multifamily rural housing projects (see S. 2567), S5747 [26SE]

——— reauthorize Farm to School Program (see S. 2026), S4628 [27JN] (see H.R. 3562), H5257 [27JN]

Dept. of Commerce: assess and analyze effects of broadband deployment and adoption on the economy (see S. 1289), S2612 [2MY] (see H.R. 3676), H5583 [10JY]

——— establish Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (see S. 1046), S2270 [4AP] (see H.R. 1328), H2100 [25FE]

——— establish Rural Export Center (see S. 295), S800 [31JA] (see H.R. 5203), H9121 [20NO]

Dept. of Education: address and take action to combat rural teacher shortages (see S. 2887), S6625 [18NO]

——— award career pathways innovation grants to local educational agencies and community colleges to encourage partnerships with businesses to help students explore a variety of career pathways (see S. 2670), S6091 [23OC] (see H.R. 4826), H8456 [23OC]

——— establish a scholarship program and loan forgiveness for rural educators and provide professional development grants for rural schools (see S. 1157), S2433 [11AP]

——— establish partnership grants for rural teaching residency programs (see H.R. 5397), H10123 [11DE]

——— improve educational opportunities for physician assistants by expanding scholarships, increasing loan limits, and expanding programs for institutions serving rural areas and minorities (see H.R. 1685), H2679 [12MR]

——— provide for teacher and school leader quality enhancement and enhance institutional aid to address teacher and principal shortages (see S. 752), S1792 [12MR]

——— support preparation and retention of outstanding educators in all fields to ensure a bright future for children in under-resourced and under-served communities (see S. 2367), S5247 [31JY]

Dept. of Energy: establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical assistance program (see S. 1183), S2434 [11AP] (see H.R. 4447), H7865 [20SE]

——— reauthorize Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs and Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program (see S. 2610), S5841 [16OC]

Dept. of HHS: conduct a study on designation of general surgery shortage areas (see S. 2859), S6604 [14NO] (see H.R. 1841), H2760 [21MR]

——— establish a national telehealth program (see S. 2408), S5249 [31JY] (see H.R. 4900), H8594 [29OC]

——— establish a rural health center innovation awards program and a rural health department enhancement program (see S. 2411), S5249 [31JY] (see H.R. 4898), H8594 [29OC]

——— establish National Health Service Corps Rural Provider Loan Repayment Program (see S. 2406), S5249 [31JY] (see H.R. 4899), H8594 [29OC]

——— establish Office of Inclusivity and Sexual Health and a rural outreach grant program carried out by that Office (see S. 1159), S2433 [11AP] (see H.R. 2312), H3264 [12AP]

——— establish Office of Older LGBT Policy and a rural outreach grant program carried out by that Office (see S. 1225), S2485 [29AP]

——— expand use of technology-enhanced collaborative learning and capacity building models to increase access to health care services in rural areas (see S. 1618), S3059 [22MY] (see H.R. 5199), H9121 [20NO]

——— extend advanced education nursing grants to support clinical nurse specialist programs (see H.R. 728), H1171 [23JA]

——— extend floor on area wage index under inpatient prospective payment system and provide eligibility for discounted drug prices under 340B drug pricing program to certain sole community hospitals (see H.R. 1323), H2046 [22FE]

——— extend floor on area wage index under inpatient prospective payment system to certain sole community hospitals (see H.R. 5103), H8878 [14NO]

——— improve obstetric care in rural areas (see S. 2373), S5248 [31JY] (see H.R. 4243), H7558 [9SE]

——— improve provision of mobile medical health care services to certain underserved areas and populations (see H.R. 4537), H8054 [26SE]

——— provide assistance for health centers and rural health clinics to implement electronic provider consultation and related telemedicine services (see H.R. 5190), H9120 [20NO]

——— reauthorize and expand Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program (see S. 304), S800 [31JA] (see S. 1191), S2434 [11AP] (see H.R. 2815), H3924 [16MY]

Dept. of Homeland Security: issue strategy to improve hiring and retention of U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel in rural or remote areas (see H.R. 1598), H2582 [7MR]

——— require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to acquire and enhance technology and assets in rural or remote areas near the southern border and establish an Agent Mobility Demonstration Program (see S. 404), S1132 [7FE]

Dept. of Labor: support development of pre-apprenticeship programs in building and construction trades that serve underrepresented populations, including individuals from low-income and rural areas (see H.R. 399), H358 [9JA]

Dept. of the Interior: authorize Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System and Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System (see S. 334), S867 [5FE] (see H.R. 967), H1361 [5FE]

——— modify Payments in Lieu of Taxes program payment formula to increase funding for certain low-population counties without reducing funding for other counties (see S. 2108), S4807 [11JY] (see H.R. 3716), H5726 [11JY]

——— permanently authorize Payments in Lieu of Taxes program (see H.R. 3043), H4180 [30MY]

——— provide economic stabilization resources to distressed rural communities directly impacted by the closure of an electric generating station (see H.R. 4318), H7705 [12SE]

——— reauthorize Payments in Lieu of Taxes program (see S. 2480), S5493 [16SE]

Dept. of the Treasury: collect data and issue report on opportunity zone tax incentives created by Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (see S. 1344), S2687 [7MY] (see H.R. 2593), H3500 [8MY]

——— direct Community Development Financial Institution Fund to perform outreach program for new markets tax credit to underserved communities (see H.R. 3664), H5583 [10JY]

Dept. of Transportation: accelerate completion of Appalachian development highway system by facilitating exchanges between States with unspent balances of targeted funds to States that lack funding (see S. 2271), S5107 [25JY] (see H.R. 4896), H8594 [29OC]

——— allow eligibility for Essential Air Service program benefits for certain locations with high military use (see H.R. 690), H958 [18JA]

——— amend certain hours of service requirements for drivers hauling live animals and agricultural perishable goods (see H.R. 4919), H8677 [30OC]

——— carry out a program to provide secured loans to private entities to carry out projects for transportation of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (see H.R. 4905), H8594 [29OC]

——— ensure States set aside certain funds for construction and operational improvements on high risk rural roads (see H.R. 4338), H7714 [16SE]

——— establish a grant program to improve evacuation routes in rural communities (see S. 1709), S3215 [4JN]

——— establish Office of Rural Economic Investment to ensure that rural communities are adequately represented in Federal decisionmaking for transportation policy (see S. 2518), S5602 [19SE]

——— establish Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Challenge Grant Program to promote technological innovation in cities (see S. 1939), S4169 [20JN] (see H.R. 3388), H5006 [20JN]

——— exempt certain motor carriers involved in agricultural business from electronic logging device mandates (see H.R. 1698), H2680 [12MR]

——— expand Appalachian development highway system (see S. 2211), S5012 [23JY]

——— increase a set-aside for Rural Project Initiative of the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program (see H.R. 4110), H7480 [30JY]

——— require any discretionary grant funds provided for high-speed rail development in California that are rescinded or reimbursed be used for water storage, nitrate reduction, or well construction (see H.R. 1600), H2582 [7MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: establish a pilot program to award grants to nonprofit veterans service organizations to upgrade community facilities of such organizations (see H.R. 3231), H4627 [12JN]

——— establish a rural recruitment office to recruit health care professionals (see H.R. 5032), H8782 [12NO]

——— extend authorization of appropriations to award grants to veterans service organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans (see S. 850), S1899 [14MR] (see H.R. 1807), H2745 [14MR]

——— provide permanent appropriations to award grants to veterans service organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans (see H.R. 4589), H8088 [1OC]

Depts. of Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, HUD, and VA, FDA, EPA, science, and military construction: making appropriations (H.R. 3055), consideration (see H. Res. 445), H4769 [18JN]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), consideration of Senate amendment (see H. Res. 708), H8957 [18NO]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), correction in enrollment (see H. Con. Res. 75), H9057 [19NO]

EPA: establish a grant program for improving infrastructure asset management by small public water systems (see S. 2674), S6091 [23OC]

——— repeal emission standards for new residential wood and pellet stoves, hydronic heaters, and forced-air furnaces (see H.R. 1281), H2032 [14FE]

——— revise regulations to prevent catastrophic failure or shutdown of remote diesel power engines in Alaska due to emission control devices (see S. 163), S274 [16JA] (see H.R. 422), H358 [9JA]

FAA: enhance rights and protections for pilots, improve transparency of decisionmaking process, promote investment in general aviation and infrastructure, and ensure access to training by aviation workforce (see S. 2198), S4966 [22JY]

FCC: add access to telecommunication and information services in Indian country and areas with high Indian population to the universal service principle (see H.R. 4449), H7865 [20SE]

——— authorize a reverse auction to help fund deployment of high-speed Internet (see H.R. 3278), H4694 [13JN]

——— conduct an annual inquiry on availability of advanced telecommunications capability in broadband deserts (see H.R. 55), H203 [3JA]

——— enhance ability of direct broadcast satellite providers to offer additional local broadcast services to consumers under limited circumstances (see S. 2829), S6475 [7NO] (see H.R. 5025), H8739 [8NO]

——— establish a challenge process to verify fixed and mobile broadband service coverage data (see H.R. 2643), H3679 [9MY]

——— establish national standard to determine comparability of mobile and broadband services provided in rural versus urban areas (see S. 1515), S2924 [16MY]

——— establish Office of Rural Broadband (see S. 454), S1275 [12FE]

——— establish Office of Rural Telecommunications (see H.R. 2601), H3501 [8MY]

——— establish program to promote availability and sustainability of robust rural broadband networks in high cost rural areas (see H.R. 2929), H4118 [22MY]

——— facilitate a spectrum pipeline for commercial use and require a portion of proceeds from spectrum auctions to go to wireless broadband infrastructure buildout in unserved and underserved rural areas (see S. 2223), S5012 [23JY]

——— improve broadband data collection, mapping, and validation to support effective deployment of broadband services to all areas of the U.S. (see S. 1522), S2924 [16MY] (see H.R. 3162), H4349 [6JN]

——— improve collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access coverage data (see S. 1485), S2884 [15MY] (see H.R. 4128), H7480 [30JY]

——— improve mapping of wireless broadband coverage accuracy by considering use of consumer-reported data and State and local data (see S. 842), S1899 [14MR]

——— prohibit Internet service providers from knowingly submitting inaccurate Internet access service coverage information or data in order to compile an inaccurate broadband coverage map (see H.R. 4227), H7534 [6SE]

——— protect funding for Universal Service Fund programs (see H.R. 5424), H10258 [12DE]

——— provide Federal matching funding for State-level broadband programs (see S. 2018), S4628 [27JN]

——— provide for an auction of C-Band spectrum and deposit proceeds in a Digital Divide Trust Fund to be used for rural broadband, public safety, education, and health care (see S. 2956), S6756 [21NO]

——— provide for carriage of certain television broadcast stations by the cable company in the Albany, NY, designated market area to subscribers in Berkshire County, MA (see S. 1655), S3105 [23MY] (see H.R. 3002), H4163 [23MY]

——— provide reporting requirements for Connect America Fund recipients that provide broadband access in rural and high cost areas (see H.R. 427), H461 [10JA]

——— remove requirement to perform certain environmental reviews as a condition of permitting placement, installation, or rebuilding of communications facilities following a major disaster or emergency (see S. 2645), S5896 [17OC] (see H.R. 4741), H8257 [18OC]

——— require Internet service providers to report actual broadband speed data and ensure funding awards are distributed to entities providing higher broadband speeds (see S. 3093), S7156 [18DE] (see H.R. 4641), H8110 [11OC]

——— require multichannel video programming distributors to carry rural video programming (see H.R. 2682), H3727 [10MY]

——— streamline siting processes for small cell infrastructure deployment (see S. 1699), S3164 [3JN]

Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council: provide designees of Dept. of Veterans Affairs and Dept. of Agriculture Rural Housing Service with positions on Appraisal Subcommittee (see S. 3050), S7027 [12DE]

Federal Home Loan Banks: provide investment authority to support rural infrastructure development (see S. 619), S1593 [28FE] (see H.R. 2391), H3303 [29AP]

FEMA: allow repair, expansion, and construction without elevation, of agricultural structures located in special flood hazard zones under the National Flood Insurance Program (see H.R. 830), H1282 [29JA]

Financial institutions: ensure that well-capitalized banks can accept custodial deposits without facing additional requirements or heightened scrutiny so that such banks may more readily make loans in their community (see H.R. 4384), H7773 [18SE]

——— provide relief to community banks and promote their access to capital (see S. 1233), S2515 [30AP]

Forest and Refuge County Foundation: grant Federal charter and establish Natural Resources Permanent Fund to provide stable, increasing, and reliable funding for rural county services (see S. 1643), S3105 [23MY]

Forest Service: prohibit transfer of operations and closure of Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers (see S. 1736), S3251 [5JN]

Government regulations: provide an exemption from certain requirements for federally funded projects and activities in areas not in metropolitan statistical areas (see S. 2430), S5311 [1AU]

Health care professionals: enhance rural health workforce (see S. 2902), S6717 [20NO]

——— provide incentives to foreign-born physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved communities (see S. 948), S2088 [28MR] (see H.R. 2895), H4117 [22MY]

Information technology: allow certain State and tribal permitting authority to encourage expansion of broadband service to rural communities (see H.R. 292), H281 [8JA]

——— ensure that fixed broadband Internet access service assisted by any Federal broadband support program meets a minimum speed threshold (see S. 2816), S6475 [7NO]

Medicare: count resident time spent in a critical care access hospital as resident time spent in a nonprovider setting for purposes of making direct and indirect graduate medical education payments (see S. 1240), S2515 [30AP]

——— delay reduction of durable medical equipment payment reimbursement rates and update budget neutrality requirement for oxygen (see H.R. 2771), H3841 [15MY]

——— extend enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals (see H.R. 3431), H5075 [24JN]

——— improve accuracy of geographic adjustment factors and permanently extend certain adjustments to such factors for certain localities (see H.R. 3302), H4770 [18JN]

——— improve benchmarking process for Medicare Shared Savings Program (see S. 2648), S5922 [21OC] (see H.R. 5212), H9167 [21NO]

——— permit States to designate facilities in rural areas as critical access hospitals without any mileage limitations (see H.R. 2990), H4163 [23MY]

——— provide for patient improvements and rural and quality improvements (see H.R. 3417), H5036 [21JN]

——— provide for payments for certain rural health clinic and federally qualified health center services furnished to hospice patients (see S. 1190), S2434 [11AP] (see H.R. 2594), H3500 [8MY]

——— 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. 2666), H3726 [10MY]

——— provide relief for small rural hospitals from inaccurate instructions provided by certain administrative contractors (see H.R. 3672), H5583 [10JY]

——— reform graduate medical education program to support rural residency training funding that is equitable for all States (see S. 289), S799 [31JA]

——— remove physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services (see S. 586), S1540 [27FE] (see H.R. 1041), H1458 [7FE]

——— restore State authority to waive for certain facilities the mileage rule for designating critical access hospitals (see S. 3103), S7157 [18DE] (see H.R. 5481), H12210 [18DE]

——— restructure payment adjustment for non-emergency end-stage renal disease ambulance transports (see S. 228), S680 [25JA] (see H.R. 3021), H4170 [24MY]

——— update rural health clinic provisions relative to usage of advanced practice clinicians, laboratory requirements and delivery of telehealth services, and reimbursement rates (see S. 1037), S2270 [4AP] (see H.R. 2788), H3923 [16MY]

National Rural Health Day: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 719), H9121 [20NO]

National Telecommunications and Information Administration: establish a broadband infrastructure finance and innovation program to support construction and deployment of broadband infrastructure (see S. 2344), S5196 [30JY] (see H.R. 4127), H7480 [30JY]

——— establish State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program (see S. 1167), S2433 [11AP] (see H.R. 4486), H7988 [25SE]

——— make grants to establish or expand Internet exchange facilities to improve broadband infrastructure in rural areas (see S. 1166), S2433 [11AP] (see H.R. 3869), H7160 [22JY]

NSF: support science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and workforce development research focused on rural areas (see H.R. 4979), H8729 [5NO]

Postal Service: modernize and maintain post office network (see H. Res. 78), H1217 [25JA]

Real estate: protect private property rights by limiting the power of eminent domain (see H.R. 738), H1171 [23JA]

SBA: establish Office of Emerging Markets (see S. 2360), S5247 [31JY]

——— expand fee waivers on small-dollar loans for veterans and borrowers in underserved communities (see S. 2138), S4907 [17JY]

——— modify Federal and State Technology Partnership Program to make grants more competitive and give priority to underserved States (see S. 2023), S4628 [27JN]

——— submit report to Congress on Office of Rural Affairs (see H.R. 2633), H3678 [9MY]

SEC: expand access to capital for rural small businesses (see S. 566), S1493 [26FE] (see H.R. 2409), H3339 [30AP]

——— revise shareholder threshold for registration under Securities Exchange Act for issuers that receive support through certain Federal universal service support mechanisms (see S. 1502), S2923 [16MY]

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act: ensure funds are not spent on lobbying and require counties receiving such funds to document how they are spent (see S. 2861), S6604 [14NO]

——— extend (see S. 430), S1165 [11FE] (see H.R. 3048), H4180 [30MY]

Taxation: allow for a credit against tax for placing in service qualified broadband property to expand the level of broadband service in a qualified rural census tract (see H.R. 3999), H7464 [25JY]

——— allow private activity bonds to be used for qualified broadband projects and provide for tax credit payments to issuers of tax-exempt bonds used to finance broadband infrastructure projects (see S. 2866), S6604 [14NO]

——— ensure tax-exempt cooperative organizations do not lose their tax-exempt status when they use certain Federal funds to provide critical services to their members (see S. 1032), S2269 [4AP]

——— establish a new tax credit and grant program to stimulate investment and healthy nutrition options in food deserts (see S. 786), S1845 [13MR] (see H.R. 1717), H2715 [13MR]

——— exclude from gross income interest received on certain loans secured by agricultural real property (see S. 1641), S3105 [23MY] (see H.R. 1872), H2826 [26MR]

——— extend certain incentives related to empowerment zones (see H.R. 2238), H3253 [10AP]

——— modify work opportunity credit for certain at-risk youth employees and extend empowerment zones to encourage hiring of at-risk youth in high poverty areas (see S. 1550), S2962 [20MY] (see H.R. 2845), H4009 [20MY]

——— provide a tax credit to consumers to reimburse a portion of the cost of broadband infrastructure serving limited broadband districts (see H.R. 2921), H4118 [22MY]

——— provide an investment credit for qualified broadband projects (see S. 2867), S6604 [14NO]

——— provide exclusion for assistance provided to certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness program participants (see S. 1163), S2433 [11AP] (see H.R. 2746), H3840 [15MY]

——— provide for new markets tax credit investments in rural job zones (see S. 2028), S4628 [27JN] (see H.R. 3538), H5256 [27JN]

——— provide incentives for establishment of supermarkets in certain underserved areas (see H.R. 3123), H4342 [5JN]

——— provide tax benefits for investments in gigabit opportunity zones (see H.R. 5082), H8877 [14NO]

——— reform low-income housing credit (see S. 1703), S3215 [4JN] (see H.R. 3077), H4312 [4JN]

——— require information reporting relative to qualified opportunity zone tax incentives enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and require public reports related to such tax incentives (see S. 2994), S6888 [5DE]

Transportation: award grants to entities that provide transportation connectors from critically underserved urban and rural communities to green spaces (see S. 2467), S5448 [11SE] (see H.R. 4273), H7596 [10SE]

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: issue depredation permits for taking of black vultures to livestock farmers to prevent harm to livestock (see H.R. 3655), H5302 [9JY]

Water: establish a trust fund to provide adequate funding for water and sewer infrastructure (see S. 611), S1593 [28FE] (see H.R. 1417), H2311 [28FE]

——— promote water supply reliability and improved water management for rural communities (see H.R. 2473), H3438 [2MY]

Cloture motions

Depts. of Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, HUD, and VA, FDA, EPA, science, and military construction: making appropriations (H.R. 3055), S6187 [28OC], S6271 [30OC], S6735 [21NO]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), motion to proceed, S5881 [17OC], S5946 [22OC]

Letters

Dept. of HHS Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program reauthorization and expansion: Beat Steiner, Fred Miser, and Judith Belle Brown, Council of Academic Family Medicine, S805 [31JA]

——— Michael L. Munger, American Academy of Family Physicians, S806 [31JA]

——— Stephen C. Shannon, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, S806 [31JA]

FCC State-level broadband programs funding match: Lisa Harvey-McPherson, Northern Light Health, Inc., S4632 [27JN]

Impact of Medicaid expansion: Nansie J. Garnham Feeny, S4789 [11JY]

Lists

Senate staff who worked on H.R. 3055, Depts. of Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, HUD, and VA, FDA, EPA, science, and military construction appropriations, S6322 [31OC]

Motions

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 265), H397 [10JA]

Depts. of Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, HUD, and VA, FDA, EPA, science, and military construction: making appropriations (H.R. 3055), S5880 [17OC], S6734, S6735 [21NO], H9035 [19NO]

Notices

Estimated budget effects of H.R. 1328, Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand (ACCESS BROADBAND) Act, H3498 [8MY]

Estimated budget effects of H.R. 4227, Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services (MAPS) Act, H10305 [16DE]

Remarks in House

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: across-the-board funding reduction, H4943 [20JN]

——— making appropriations, H184, H186 [3JA], H1152 [23JA], H10589, H10590, H10592 [17DE]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 265), H375–H398, H451 [10JA], H550 [15JA]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 265), consideration (H. Res. 28), H302–H311 [9JA]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 265), motion to recommit, H397 [10JA]

Agriculture Improvement Act: implementation, H2687 [13MR]

Committee on the Climate Crisis (House, Select): address climate change with Rural Green Partnership, H9383 [9DE]

Corps of Engineers: flood and storm damage reduction funding, H4748 [18JN]

Dept. of Agriculture: Community Connect Grant Program funding to improve broadband deployment into rural areas, H4942 [20JN]

——— Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program funding, H4944, H4945 [20JN]

——— improve broadband access in rural areas, H10022 [11DE]

——— initiative with Dept. of Energy to facilitate energy-related investments in rural communities, H8464 [28OC]

——— provide assistance to manage farmer and rancher stress and mental health of individuals in rural areas (H.R. 4820), H9158 [21NO]

——— provide loans and grants to qualified agricultural associations to assist in the establishment of agricultural association health plans, H354 [9JA]

——— ReConnect Program funding to improve broadband access in rural areas, H397 [10JA]

——— Rural eConnectivity (ReConnect) Program funding, H4945 [20JN]

——— Rural Health and Safety Education Program funding to combat opioid epidemic in rural communities, H4942 [20JN]

——— Rural Utilities Service funding to address inadequate wastewater infrastructure in rural and unincorporated communities, H4941 [20JN]

Dept. of Commerce: establish Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (H.R. 1328), H3488–H3490 [8MY]

Dept. of HHS: create grant program for hospitals located in rural and medically underserved areas, including Critical Access Hospitals, to cover start-up costs for establishing a graduate medical education (GME) program, H10207, H10208 [12DE]

——— encourage Health Resources and Services Administration coordination with Dept. of Agriculture to improve rural health care access, H4616, H4617 [12JN]

——— establish graduate medical education grant program for hospitals in rural and medically underserved areas, H9157 [21NO]

——— extend advanced education nursing grants to support clinical nurse specialist programs (H.R. 728), H8513–H8516 [28OC], H8682 [31OC]

Dept. of HUD: Homeless Assistance Programs funding, H5064 [24JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: departmental medical facilities funding, H5017, H5018 [21JN]

——— establish criteria for provision of child care that ensures reasonable access relative to driving distance, geographic challenges, or other environmental factors, H1471 [8FE]

——— improve ability of health care professionals to treat veterans through the use of telemedicine, H8393 [23OC]

——— provide permanent appropriations to award grants to veterans service organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans, H7891 [24SE]

——— require reports on accessibility and effectiveness of child care programs for eligible veterans in rural areas, H1474 [8FE]

——— veterans’ medical transportation programs modernization funding, E817 [21JN]

Depts. of Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, HUD, and VA, FDA, EPA, science, and military construction: making appropriations (H.R. 3055), H4670 [13JN], H4797–H4896 [19JN], H4928, H4929–H4997 [20JN], H5011–H5022 [21JN], H5047–H5072 [24JN], H5100–H5104 [25JN], E806 [20JN]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), consideration (H. Res. 445), H4779–H4789 [19JN]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), consideration of Senate amendment (H. Res. 708), H8967–H8971 [19NO]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), correction in enrollment (H. Con. Res. 75), H9041 [19NO]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), Senate amendment, H8966, H8972–H9041 [19NO], H9156 [21NO], E1483 [20NO]

Drugs: acknowledge impact of high cost of prescription drugs on communities of color and persons living in rural or sparsely populated areas, H10208–H10210 [12DE]

——— combat drug trafficking in rural areas, H9230 [4DE]

Elections: ensure States locate polls near public transportation and in communities that will give rural residents the best opportunity to vote during the early voting period, H2480, H2481 [6MR]

EPA: prohibit funding for enforcement of emissions standards for small incinerators in remote areas of Alaska, H4952, H4953 [20JN]

——— revise regulations to prevent catastrophic failure or shutdown of remote diesel power engines in Alaska due to emission control devices (S. 163), H7744 [17SE]

FAA: Remote Tower Pilot Program funding, H5065 [24JN]

FCC: engage tribal stakeholders and providers to ensure accessible and affordable broadband Internet access on tribal lands, H3227, H3228 [10AP]

——— ensure future reports on the state of broadband deployment are based on accurate data and correct past inaccuracies prior to the report’s release, H3229, H3230 [10AP]

——— exempt small business providers of broadband Internet access from net neutrality enhanced transparency requirements, H3183 [9AP]

——— expand broadband Internet access service to rural areas, H2651 [12MR], H3853 [16MY], H8148 [16OC]

——— improve broadband data collection, mapping, and validation to support effective deployment of broadband services to all areas of the U.S. (H.R. 3162), H7564 [10SE]

——— prohibit funding to finalize rule imposing a cap on Universal Service Fund and allowing Schools and Libraries program and Rural Healthcare Support program caps to be combined, H5130 [25JN]

——— require Internet service providers to report actual broadband speed data and ensure funding awards are distributed to entities providing higher broadband speeds (H.R. 4641), H8152 [16OC]

FEC: analyze use of illicit foreign money to conduct disinformation and propaganda campaigns in order to depress voter turnout in rural communities and provide recommendations to counteract such activity in future elections, H8432, H8433 [23OC]

GAO: report to Congress on benefits of standalone broadband Internet access and recommendations to increase availability of such access to rural consumers, H3182, H3183 [9AP]

——— report to Congress on importance of open Internet rules to vulnerable communities, H3182 [9AP]

——— submit report with recommendations on how the FCC can expand broadband Internet service in rural and underserved areas, H3231 [10AP]

Health: promote health care in rural communities, H3509 [9MY]

House of Representatives: legislative priorities, H8377 [22OC]

Lupeika, Debbie: Association of Clinicians for the Underserved National Clinician of the Year award recipient, H4053 [21MY]

Medicare: permit States to designate facilities in rural areas as critical access hospitals without any mileage limitations (H.R. 2990), H9066 [20NO]

Montpelier, ID: Bear Lake Memorial Hospital recipient of National Rural Health Association Top 20 Critical Access Hospital and Best Practices in Quality honors, E23 [9JA]

National Agriculture Day: observance, H2685, H2687 [13MR]

National Agriculture Week: observance, H2629, H2630 [11MR], H2650 [12MR]

National Forest Products Week: observance, H8528 [28OC]

National Rural Health Day: observance, H8961 [19NO], H9126, H9156, H9157–H9159 [21NO]

National Telecommunications and Information Administration: prohibit funding to update broadband availability maps that rely solely on FCC census-block data, H4928 [20JN]

Office of National Drug Control Policy: Drug-Free Communities Support Program funding, H5187 [26JN]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: ensure rural areas are included in navigator outreach, H3900, H3901 [16MY]

Postal Service: grant Ravn Alaska (company) status as ‘‘existing mainline carrier’’ to ensure viable passenger service and mail delivery in Alaska, E180 [14FE]

SBA: Regional Innovation Cluster Program funding, H5134, H5135 [25JN]

SEC: expand access to capital for rural small businesses (H.R. 2409), H5285–H5287 [9JY]

Steuben Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.: anniversary, E1310 [18OC]

Sumas, WA: Evergreen Rural Water of Washington (organization) Water Taste Test winner, E165 [13FE]

Telecommunications: require greater transparency in fees and services from cable and Internet providers, H2327 [5MR]

Timber Innovation Day: observance, H8528 [28OC]

U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change: require President to report on impact of Paris Agreement on clean energy job development in rural communities, H3384 [1MY]

University of Oregon: anniversary of Institute for Policy Research and Engagement Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program, E961 [23JY]

Utah Valley University: tribute to Utah International Mountain Forum efforts to advance sustainable mountain development particularly for women and girls, E453 [12AP]

VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (VA MISSION) Act: implementation, H8834 [14NO]

Vogelpohl, Ray and Theresa: Arkansas Agriculture Dept., Forestry Commission Arkansas Forest Stewards of the Year award recipients, H3242 [10AP]

Winnett, MT: tribute to Winnett Agricultural and Community Enhancement and Sustainability (ACES) program, E307 [14MR]

Wise, VA: tribute to Central Appalachia Health Wagon annual Remote Area Medical Wise Expedition clinic, E825 [24JN]

Remarks in Senate

Agriculture: economic status, S3233 [5JN], S3632 [18JN]

Agriculture Improvement Act: impact, S1507 [27FE]

American Farm Bureau Federation: anniversary (S. Res. 39), S815 [31JA]

Branscum, David: Arkansas Rural Development Commission Arkansas Rural Advocate of the Year award recipient, S2960 [20MY]

Canada, Gary and Hanna: American Bankers Association Bruning Award recipients, S6752 [21NO]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: proposed rule to update formula used to reimburse hospitals for patient care, S4834 [16JY]

Colorado Farm Bureau Federation: anniversary (S. Res. 424), S6614 [14NO], S6913 [10DE]

DEA: allow community addiction treatment facilities and community mental health facilities to register to dispense controlled substances through telemedicine (S. 2244), S6280 [30OC]

Dept. of Agriculture: Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network funding, S2999 [21MY]

——— provide assistance to manage farmer and rancher stress and mental health of individuals in rural areas (S. 2599), S6579 [14NO]

——— reauthorize Farm to School Program (S. 2026), S4633 [27JN]

——— reform and continue agricultural and other programs, S55 [8JA]

——— reform and continue agricultural and other programs (H.R. 2), conference report, S6377 [5NO]

Dept. of Commerce: assess and analyze effects of broadband deployment and adoption on the economy (S. 1289), S3267 [5JN]

Dept. of Education: provide for teacher and school leader quality enhancement and enhance institutional aid to address teacher and principal shortages (S. 752), S1795 [12MR]

Dept. of HHS: establish a national telehealth program (S. 2408), S6383 [5NO]

——— establish a rural health center innovation awards program and a rural health department enhancement program (S. 2411), S6383 [5NO]

——— establish National Health Service Corps Rural Provider Loan Repayment Program (S. 2406), S6376, S6383 [5NO], S6940 [10DE]

——— reauthorize and expand Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program (S. 304), S805 [31JA]

——— reauthorize Rural Emergency Medical Service Training and Equipment Assistance Program, S6377 [5NO]

Dept. of Homeland Security: proposed rule to update and reform EB–5 Visa Program, S5036 [24JY]

——— establish a grant program to improve evacuation routes in rural communities (S. 1709), S3219 [4JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: improve ability of health care professionals to treat veterans through the use of telemedicine, S3824 [19JN], S6422 [6NO]

Depts. of Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, HUD, and VA, FDA, EPA, science, and military construction: across-the-board funding reduction, S6184, S6186 [28OC]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), S4739 [9JY], S4744 [10JY], S5913 [21OC], S5951–S5953, S5959 [22OC], S6057–S6060, S6065 [23OC], S6179, S6180, S6183–S6187 [28OC], S6208–S6216, S6218, S6221–S6223, S6227, S6232, S6233 [29OC], S6263, S6284 [30OC], S6315, S6319–S6323, S6327, S6359 [31OC], S6386 [5NO], S6503, S6504 [12NO]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), correction in enrollment (H. Con. Res. 75), S6736 [21NO]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), House amendment, S6631, S6641 [19NO], S6682, S6696, S6703 [20NO], S6730–S6736 [21NO]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), motion to proceed, S5880 [17OC], S5911 [21OC], S5931, S5933, S5944–S5947, S5949–S5951 [22OC]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 3055), unanimous-consent agreement, S6146 [24OC], S6293, S6294 [30OC]

Dinsdale, Chris: Farm Credit Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame inductee, S6753 [21NO]

Economy: revitalize the middle class, S2848–S2850 [15MY]

EPA: revise regulations to prevent catastrophic failure or shutdown of remote diesel power engines in Alaska due to emission control devices (S. 163), S2982 [20MY]

FCC: provide Federal matching funding for State-level broadband programs (S. 2018), S4632 [27JN]

——— provide for an auction of C-Band spectrum and deposit proceeds in a Digital Divide Trust Fund to be used for rural broadband, public safety, education, and health care (S. 2956), S7129 [18DE]

——— streamline siting processes for small cell infrastructure deployment (S. 1699), S3173 [4JN], S6413 [6NO], S6830 [4DE], S7126 [18DE]

Hanavan, Charles: Farm Credit Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame inductee, S6753 [21NO]

Health: promote health care in rural communities, S6383 [5NO]

Illinois Electric Cooperative: provide Internet access to rural Illinois, S6376 [5NO]

National Telecommunications and Information Administration: make grants to establish or expand Internet exchange facilities to improve broadband infrastructure in rural areas (S. 1166), S6704 [20NO], S6940 [10DE]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: impact of Medicaid expansion, S4712 [9JY], S4746 [10JY], S4789 [11JY], S4961 [22JY], S5035 [24JY], S5076 [25JY]

SBA: establish Office of Emerging Markets (S. 2360), S5252 [31JY]

Senate: legislative priorities, S5453 [12SE]

Taxation: reform low-income housing credit (S. 1703), S3218 [4JN]

VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (VA MISSION) Act: implementation, S3824–S3827 [19JN], S4152 [20JN], S6422, S6424–S6426 [6NO]

Washoe County, NV: Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area designated as International Dark-Sky Association International Dark Sky Sanctuary, S2266 [4AP]

Reports filed

Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Committee on Appropriations (House) (H.R. 3164) (H. Rept. 116–107), H4348 [6JN]

——— Committee on Appropriations (Senate) (S. 2522) (S. Rept. 116–110), S5602 [19SE]

Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act: Committee on Environment and Public Works (Senate) (S. 163), S866 [5FE]

Clean Water for Rural Communities Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 334) (S. Rept. 116–133), S5965 [22OC]

Consideration of H.R. 265, Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 28) (H. Rept. 116–1), H280 [8JA]

Consideration of H.R. 3055, Depts. of Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, HUD, and VA, FDA, EPA, Science, and Military Construction Appropriations: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 445) (H. Rept. 116–119), H4769 [18JN]

Dept. of HHS Advanced Education Nursing Grants To Support Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs Extension: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 728) (H. Rept. 116–216), H7900 [24SE]

Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 1289) (S. Rept. 116–186), S7207 [19DE]

Small County PILT Parity Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 2108), S7156 [18DE]

Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 3620) (H. Rept. 116–198), H7534 [6SE]

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Rural and Remote Hiring and Retention Strategy Act: Committee on Homeland Security (House) (H.R. 1598) (H. Rept. 116–22), H2914 [28MR]

Statements

Dept. of HHS Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program Reauthorization and Expansion: several organizations, S805, S806 [31JA]

Texts of

H. Res. 28, consideration of H.R. 265, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations, H302 [9JA]

H. Res. 445, consideration of H.R. 3055, Depts. of Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, HUD, and VA, FDA, EPA, science, and military construction appropriations, H4779 [19JN]

H.R. 265, agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs appropriations, H376–H388 [10JA]

H.R. 728, Dept. of HHS advanced education nursing grants extension to support clinical nurse specialist programs, H8513 [28OC]

H.R. 1328, Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand (ACCESS BROADBAND) Act, H3488 [8MY]

H.R. 2409, Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act, H5285 [9JY]

H.R. 3055, Depts. of Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, HUD, and VA, FDA, EPA, science, and military construction appropriations, H4804–H4877 [19JN]

H.R. 3620, Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act, H7573 [10SE]

H.R. 4227, Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services (MAPS) Act, H10291 [16DE]

S. 163, Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act, S2982 [20MY], H7744 [17SE]

S. 895, Rural Hospital Regulatory Relief Act, S2048 [27MR]

S. 1289, Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act, S3267 [5JN]

S. 1550, Helping To Encourage Real Opportunities (HERO) for At-Risk Youth Act, S2967 [20MY]

S. 1699, Streamlining the Rapid Evolution and Modernization of Leading-Edge Infrastructure Necessary To Enhance (STREAMLINE) Small Cell Deployment Act, S3167 [3JN]

S. 2518, Rural Economic Infrastructure Equity Act, S5606 [19SE]

S. 3103, Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act, S7161 [18DE]

S. Res. 39, American Farm Bureau Federation anniversary, S812 [31JA]

S. Res. 424, Colorado Farm Bureau Federation anniversary, S6611 [14NO]