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

Articles and editorials

How the Education Department Cuts Could Hurt Low-Income and Rural Schools, S1983 [31MR]

Bills and resolutions

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (see S. 2256), S4314 [10JY] (see H.R. 4121), H2968 [25JN]

AID: establish program in Office of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment to promote mobility in rural communities through access to affordable, fit-for-purpose bicycles (see S. 2093), S3435 [17JN]

Amtrak: authorize additional approprations for long-distance routes (see S. 2899), S6730 [18SE]

Appalachian Regional Commission, Delta Regional Authority, and SBA: enter into agreement to carry out activities to expand rural entrepreneurship (see H.R. 2728), H1506 [8AP]

BLS: prepare and publish Consumer Price Index for Rural Consumers (see H.R. 1038), H504 [5FE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: extend eligibility for allotments under Rural Health Transformation Program to District of Columbia (see H.R. 5003), H3703 [19AU]

——— provide for treatment of certain critical access hospitals (see S. 3047), S7730 [23OC]

——— require Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test model to improve access to specialty health services for certain beneficiaries (see S. 1248), S2139 [2AP] (see H.R. 2533), H1402 [1AP]

Colleges and universities: anniversary of 1890 Land-Grant Educational Institutions (see H. Res. 691), H4238 [10SE]

——— provide additional funding for scholarships for students at 1890 Land-Grant Educational Institutions (see H.R. 1271), H675 [12FE]

Colorado: make certain modifications to repayment for Arkansas Valley Conduit (see S. 296), S480 [29JA] (see H.R. 131), H32 [3JA]

Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.: increase oversight of foreign direct investment in U.S. agricultural land (see S. 1012), S1705 [12MR]

——— require to review and prohibit certain transactions relating to agriculture (see S. 903), S1604 [6MR]

Community development: promote development of smart cities through investment in smart infrastructure (see H.R. 4649), H3642 [23JY]

Conservation of natural resources: establish interest-bearing account for non-Federal contributions to Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (see S. 291), S480 [29JA] (see H.R. 831), H429 [31JA]

Dept. of Agriculture: address infrastructure needs for food banks serving rural communities (see H.R. 6834), H6113 [18DE]

——— amend Rural Innovation Stronger Economy Grant Program (see H.R. 291), H89 [9JA]

——— authorize mandatory funding for Healthy Food Financing Initiative (see S. 2103), S3469 [18JN]

——— carry out demonstration project to allow Tribal entities to purchase agricultural commodities under commodity supplemental food program (see H.R. 2236), H1171 [18MR]

——— carry out initiative to develop, expand, and improve rural child care (see H.R. 5363), H4310 [15SE]

——— codify Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program (see S. 1282), S2172 [3AP]

——— designate Guam and Western Pacific Rural Development office as representative of rural development in Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Freely Associated States (see H.R. 6063), H4705 [17NO]

——— establish Climate Scientific Research Advisory Committee and Rural Climate Alliance Network (see H.R. 1904), H1036 [6MR]

——— establish emergency preparedness and response technical assistance program to assist entities that operate rural water or wastewater systems to prepare for and respond to natural or man-made disasters (see S. 1019), S1742 [13MR]

——— establish energy circuit rider program to disseminate technical and other assistance to rural communities to support energy efficiency and clean energy projects (see S. 2185), S3562 [26JN]

——— establish grant program to assist with purchase, installation, and maintenance of point-of-entry and point-of-use drinking water quality improvement products (see S. 2436), S4699 [24JY] (see H.R. 4721), H3645 [23JY]

——— establish last acre program to advance precision agriculture connectivity and broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas (see S. 1617), S2775 [6MY] (see H.R. 3212), H1879 [6MY]

——— establish pilot grant program to award grants under commodity supplemental food program to facilitate home delivery of commodities to certain senior citizens (see H.R. 1538), H767 [24FE]

——— establish pilot program to implement pre-qualification or pre-approval process for farmers and ranchers for certain direct farm ownership loans (see S. 910), S1630 [10MR]

——— establish program to provide grants and loans to facilitate care, rehabilitation, and welfare of domestic animals in rural areas (see H.R. 6716), H5898 [15DE]

——— establish program to provide technical assistance to rural communities in recovering from disasters (see S. 2281), S4368 [15JY] (see H.R. 6462), H5050 [4DE]

——— exempt from inspection slaughter of animals and preparation of carcasses conducted at custom slaughter facilities (see S. 2409), S4624 [23JY] (see H.R. 4700), H3644 [23JY]

——— expand and codify Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program and rename as Rural Health Care Facility Technical Assistance Program (see H.R. 1417), H722 [18FE]

——— expand eligibility for direct loans to those that hold certain percent interest and that are or will become bona fide operators of farm real estate acquired, improved, or supported with farm loans (see H.R. 6779), H6021 [17DE]

——— expand Emergency Watershed Protection Program to enhance long-term protection of watersheds (see H.R. 5280), H4237 [10SE]

——— extend and enhance Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (see S. 2691), S6008 [3SE] (see H.R. 4935), H3687 [8AU]

——— extend and increase funding for Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (see H.R. 5598), H4501 [26SE]

——— 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 H.R. 1838), H975 [4MR]

——— improve biobased markets program (see S. 2654), S5207 [1AU] (see H.R. 4832), H3671 [1AU]

——— improve Facilities Loan and Grant Program to provide capital investment for facilities providing healthcare, education, child care, public safety, and other vital services in rural areas (see H.R. 1246), H674 [12FE]

——— improve process for awarding grants to counties in which majority of land is owned or managed by Federal Government and to other local and Tribal governments in those counties (see S. 2618), S4996 [31JY]

——— improve process for rural health facilities to buy and upgrade preventative health care equipment through Community Facilities Grant Program (see H.R. 5858), H4558 [28OC]

——— improve Rural Energy for America Program (see H.R. 6287), H4896 [21NO]

——— include cybersecurity technical assistance in national rural water and wastewater circuit rider program (see S. 1018), S1742 [13MR] (see H.R. 2109), H1159 [14MR]

——— increase access to, and minimum speeds of, broadband telecommunications services in rural areas, and provide grants, loans, and loan guarantees to finance costs of such services (see H.R. 3280), H1942 [8MY]

——— make grants to States to support establishment of grocery stores in underserved areas (see H.R. 484), H218 [16JA]

——— modify delivery of technical assistance (see S. 156), S280 [21JA] (see H.R. 575), H256 [21JA]

——— modify Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Thrifty Food Plan to apply to urban and rural parts of Hawaii (see H.R. 6368), H4994 [2DE]

——— permanently authorize Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (see S. 2221), S4286 [9JY] (see H.R. 6277), H4895 [21NO]

——— permit assumption of loans under Doug Bereuter Section 502 Single Family Housing Loan Guarantee Program (see H.R. 5728), H4532 [10OC]

——— prioritize healthcare and mental or behavioral health facilities in Community Facilities Program and use loans and grants for medical supplies, telehealth, staffing, or closed facilities renovation (see H.R. 4272), H3188 [2JY]

——— prioritize projects that provide behavioral and mental health treatment services in selecting grantees under certain rural development programs and extend substance abuse disorder set-aside (see H.R. 1906), H1036 [6MR]

——— prohibit foreign nationals associated with certain foreign governments from purchase or lease of agricultural land in U.S. and from participating in any agricultural programs for farmers (see S. 618), S1009 [18FE] (see H.R. 1438), H722 [18FE]

——— prohibit use of race-based or sex-based criteria in administration of certain programs (see H.R. 4947), H3692 [12AU]

——— provide mandatory funding from CCC for reimbursement payments to geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (see S. 1758), S2927 [14MY] (see H.R. 5241), H4164 [9SE]

——— provide rural partnership program grants and rural partnership technical assistance grants (see H.R. 6041), H4666 [12NO]

——— provide technical assistance to expand access to broadband service in rural communities (see H.R. 3125), H1775 [30AP]

——— reauthorize and improve ReConnect loan and grant program (see S. 3084), S7850 [30OC] (see H.R. 3119), H1775 [30AP]

——— reauthorize Community Connect Grant Program (see H.R. 6070), H4705 [17NO]

——— reauthorize Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program (see H.R. 290), H89 [9JA]

——— reauthorize Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Program (see S. 2282), S4368 [15JY] (see H.R. 4400), H3314 [15JY]

——— reauthorize Farm to School Program (see S. 3127), S7962 [6NO] (see H.R. 6065), H4705 [17NO]

——— reauthorize Healthy Food Financing Initiative (see H.R. 3506), H2197 [20MY]

——— reauthorize rural cooperative development grants (see S. 3075), S7849 [30OC] (see H.R. 1951), H1038 [6MR]

——— reform and continue agricultural and other programs (see H.R. 5875), H4565 [31OC]

——— reform appraisals for value of Federal payments to certain Minnesota counties for land located within Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (see S. 638), S1040 [19FE]

——— reform farm loans and National Appeals Division process (see S. 3126), S7962 [6NO] (see H.R. 6169), H4872 [20NO]

——— remove barriers to agricultural producers in accessing funds to carry out emergency measures under emergency conservation program (see S. 629), S1040 [19FE] (see H.R. 1011), H503 [5FE]

——— remove limitation on amount of civil penalty imposed on foreign owners who fail to report or misreport investments in U.S. agricultural land (see S. 845), S1496 [4MR] (see H.R. 1629), H878 [26FE]

——— require foreign purchaser of agricultural land to be subject to same restrictions as are applicable to U.S. citizens and nationals in home country of such foreign purchaser (see H.R. 2124), H1160 [14MR]

——— require Risk Management Agency to carry out research and development relative to winter canola (see H.R. 2858), H1598 [10AP]

——— terminate Community Connect Grant Program (see S. 2610), S4996 [31JY]

Dept. of Commerce: establish rural export centers (see S. 2456), S4699 [24JY]

Dept. of Defense: conduct study on conversion of rural abandoned factories, space centers, and military bases into space-related manufacturing facilities and space complexes (see H.R. 3697), H2419 [3JN]

Dept. of Education: ensure no reductions in funding for critical education programs (see S. 810), S1429 [27FE]

——— ensure that teachers are paid livable and competitive salary throughout their career (see S. 2481), S4773 [28JY]

Dept. of Energy: establish initiative to provide grants to fund development of resilient energy systems in remote, island, and Tribal communities (see H.R. 4025), H2831 [17JN]

Dept. of HHS: authorize grants to provide treatment for diabetes in urban and rural communities (see H.R. 6241), H4875 [20NO]

——— authorize loan repayment program to encourage specialty medicine physicians to serve in rural communities experiencing shortage of such physicians (see S. 1380), S2520 [9AP] (see H.R. 4681), H3643 [23JY]

——— authorize loans and loan guarantees for planning, constructing, or renovating pediatric or adult mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities (see S. 1673), S2837 [8MY] (see H.R. 3266), H1942 [8MY]

——— authorize Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (see H.R. 4733), H3645 [23JY]

——— award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for supporting new mobile cancer screening units to expand patient access to essential screening services in rural and underserved communities (see S. 2927), S6832 [29SE] (see H.R. 4417), H3315 [15JY]

——— award grants to qualified entities to support community paramedicine programs carried out in rural areas (see H.R. 4011), H2825 [13JN]

——— establish EMS Preparedness and Response Workforce Shortage Pilot Program and streamline process for veterans to become emergency medical services technicians and paramedics (see H.R. 2220), H1170 [18MR]

——— establish grant program to support schools of medicine and schools of osteopathic medicine in underserved areas (see S. 975), S1703 [12MR] (see H.R. 2106), H1159 [14MR]

——— establish home-based telemental health care grant program to increase mental health services in rural medically underserved populations and in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (see S. 1056), S1743 [13MR] (see H.R. 6817), H6022 [17DE]

——— establish Office of Rural Health (see S. 403), S666 [5FE] (see H.R. 3102), H1774 [30AP]

——— establish rural health center innovation awards program and rural health department enhancement program (see H.R. 1480), H727 [21FE]

——— establish rural provider demonstration program to provide payments on eligible loans for individuals eligible for National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (see H.R. 1127), H583 [7FE]

——— make grants to assist rural hospitals (see H.R. 3063), H1726 [29AP]

——— prohibit from implementing, enforcing, or otherwise giving effect to final rule regarding minimum staffing for nursing facilities and establish advisory panel on nursing home workforce (see S. 750), S1396 [26FE] (see H.R. 1683), H914 [27FE]

——— provide for health care workforce innovation program (see H.R. 935), H457 [4FE]

——— provide for participation of physical therapists in National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment program and include coverage of physical therapy services in certain programs (see H.R. 5621), H4506 [30SE]

——— reauthorize Project ECHO Grant Program and establish grants under such program to disseminate knowledge and build capacity to address Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (see H.R. 3747), H2504 [5JN]

——— reauthorize telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs (see H.R. 3419), H2052 [14MY]

Dept. of Homeland Security: establish Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency program to promote cybersecurity field to disadvantaged communities (see H.R. 6429), H5049 [4DE]

——— require Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to develop comprehensive rural hospital cybersecurity workforce development strategy (see S. 2169), S3533 [25JN]

——— require updates to northern border threat analysis and northern border strategy (see S. 850), S1579 [5MR] (see H.R. 5517), H4487 [19SE]

——— update northern border threat analysis and address staffing challenges (see H.R. 3891), H2614 [10JN]

Dept. of HUD: establish grant program to address crises in accessing affordable housing and child care through co-location of housing and child care (see S. 310), S480 [29JA] (see H.R. 646), H384 [23JA]

——— expand certain service coordinator programs (see H.R. 5057), H3711 [26AU]

——— modernize housing finance assistance options for rural communities (see H.R. 6720), H5899 [15DE]

——— strengthen Community Development Block Grant program to encourage more housing development (see H.R. 6337), H4966 [1DE]

——— update eligibility requirements related to metropolitan statistical area population limits for Community Development Block Grant Colonia Set-Aside Program (see H.R. 4498), H3473 [17JY]

Dept. of Justice: establish competitive grant program for local and State entities to assist in hiring, retaining, and training prosecutors and staff (see S. 3438), S8670 [11DE] (see H.R. 6666), H5809 [11DE]

——— establish grant program to reduce number of individuals incarcerated in local jails and number of days such individuals are incarcerated and support community-led local justice reinvestment (see H.R. 2669), H1459 [7AP]

Dept. of Labor: allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to order care for current and former Dept. of Energy workers who receive health care through Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (see S. 2167), S3533 [25JN] (see H.R. 4122), H2968 [25JN]

——— remove requirement that 75 percent of certain funds be used to provide youth workforce investment activities for out-of-school youth (see H.R. 6413), H5025 [3DE]

Dept. of the Interior: 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. 1175), S1905 [27MR]

——— reissue certain Records of Decision and Resource Management Plans (see H.R. 1997), H1065 [10MR]

Dept. of the Treasury: establish Outdoor Restoration Fund to provide grants for restoration and resilience projects (see S. 670), S1127 [20FE] (see H.R. 1459), H726 [21FE]

——— increase transparency and accountability of Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (see S. 2704), S6319 [4SE]

Dept. of Transportation: ensure Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program is accessible to rural areas (see H.R. 502), H219 [16JA]

——— except from certain requirements relative to eligibility for essential air service between Guam and Northern Mariana Islands (see H.R. 2216), H1170 [18MR]

——— exempt Northern Mariana Islands from certain eligibility requirements for essential air service program (see H.R. 2132), H1160 [14MR]

——— improve process for awarding grants to counties in which majority of land is owned or managed by Federal Government and to other local and Tribal governments in those counties (see S. 2619), S4996 [31JY]

——— make projects in certain counties eligible for funding under Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (see H.R. 3572), H2361 [21MY]

——— permit use of State highway standards for airfield pavement construction and improvement under certain circumstances (see H.R. 6427), H5048 [4DE]

——— require that applications to provide compensated basic essential air service include contingency plan to continue air service in event of disruption (see H.R. 4246), H3032 [27JN]

——— set aside certain amounts provided under rural surface transportation grant program for regional hubs (see H.R. 3932), H2654 [11JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: authorize certain departmental heath care professionals to deliver, distribute, or dispense to veterans certain controlled medications via telemedicine under certain conditions (see H.R. 1107), H555 [6FE]

——— designate patient advocate to serve as coordinator for veterans residing in rural and highly rural areas (see S. 1134), S1871 [26MR]

——— establish partnerships between departmental medical facilities and medical facilities in rural areas (see S. 3033), S7699 [21OC]

——— establish pilot program to furnish dental care to veterans who reside in rural and highly rural areas (see H.R. 5949), H4583 [7NO]

——— expand access by veterans to critical access hospitals and affiliated clinics under Veterans Community Care Program (see S. 1868), S3115 [22MY]

——— expand and modify Highly Rural Transportation Grant Program (see S. 784), S1428 [27FE] (see H.R. 1733), H916 [27FE]

——— include eyeglass lens fittings in category of medical services authorized to be furnished to veterans under Veterans Community Care Program (see H.R. 5593), H4500 [26SE]

Depts. of Agriculture and HUD: enter into memorandum of understanding relating to housing projects (see S. 2423), S4625 [23JY] (see H.R. 4989), H3698 [15AU]

Depts. of Agriculture and the Interior: establish online portals to accept, process, and dispose of certain applications for placement of communications facilities on Federal lands (see H.R. 1665), H913 [27FE]

Economy: support rural coastal and maritime economic development (see S. 1968), S3254 [5JN]

Education: repeal cost-sharing requirements for certain science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs (see H.R. 6366), H4994 [2DE]

EPA: expand eligibility under State Response to Contaminants Program to also cover small and disadvantaged communities (see S. 1324), S2475 [8AP]

——— provide grants to reduce amount of food waste (see S. 3443), S8670 [11DE] (see H.R. 6684), H5840 [12DE]

——— recognize anniversary of renewable fuel standard and its foundational role in strengthening energy security, supporting rural communities, growing U.S. economy, and improving environmental performance (see S. Res. 364), S5208 [1AU] (see H. Res. 628), H3673 [1AU]

FAA: establish program to provide assistance to underserved airports to improve passenger and flight capacity (see H.R. 3085), H1727 [29AP]

FCC: add access to telecommunication and information services in Indian country and areas with high Indian population to universal service principle (see S. 3184), S8204 [18NO] (see H.R. 6067), H4705 [17NO]

——— establish vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost Universal Service Program funding (see S. 98), S185 [15JA] (see H.R. 2399), H1334 [27MR]

——— exclude construction, rebuilding, or hardening of communications facilities following declared wildfire emergency from environmental or historical preservation review regulations (see H.R. 1655), H912 [27FE]

——— modernize and improve Broadband Funding Map to promote most efficient use of Federal funds for broadband deployment (see S. 2585), S4995 [31JY]

——— prioritize timely processing of certain long-form applications in Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase II auction (see H.R. 46), H29 [3JA]

Federal agencies and departments: enhance outreach to rural communities relative to Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (see H.R. 1590), H876 [26FE]

——— take steps to better meet statutory deadline for processing broadband applications (see S. 866), S1580 [5MR]

Federal aid programs: make grants to Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, National 4–H Council, and National FFA Organization to establish pilot projects to expand programs in rural areas and small towns (see H.R. 2812), H1596 [10AP]

——— provide technical assistance for geographically underserved and distressed areas (see H.R. 6433), H5049 [4DE]

Federal Home Loan Banks: meet short- and long-term housing and community economic development financing needs of communities and align executive compensation to mission achievements (see S. 1439), S2561 [10AP]

Federal Water Pollution Control Act: amend to provide additional financial assistance to rural, small, and Tribal publicly owned treatment works (see H.R. 6464), H5050 [4DE]

FEMA: increase availability of flood insurance for agricultural structures (see H.R. 5961), H4583 [7NO]

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. 5317), H4263 [11SE]

——— require appropriate Federal banking agencies to establish phase-in period for de novo financial institutions to comply with Federal capital standards and provide relief for de novo rural community banks (see S. 113), S225 [16JA] (see H.R. 478), H218 [16JA]

Foreign investments: amend certain laws with respect to foreign investments in U.S. agriculture (see S. 732), S1345 [25FE] (see H.R. 1576), H836 [25FE]

Forest Service: improve assistance to community wood facilities (see S. 2183), S3562 [26JN] (see H.R. 2517), H1373 [31MR]

——— reauthorize Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (see S. 1662), S2799 [7MY] (see H.R. 3361), H1999 [13MY]

FRS: study improving growth, capital adequacy, and profitability of rural depository institutions (see H.R. 6536), H5111 [9DE]

GAO: conduct study on capability of Appalachian Regional Commission to include low-orbit satellites in broadband projects (see H.R. 2474), H1337 [27MR]

——— study accessibility of substance use disorder treatment and mental health care providers and services for farmers and ranchers (see S. 1074), S1776 [14MR]

Health: reauthorize certain programs regarding rural health care (see S. 2301), S4420 [16JY]

Health care facilities: include rural emergency hospitals in definition of covered entity for purposes of 340B drug discount program (see H.R. 44), H29 [3JA]

——— repeal ban on provider-owned hospitals (see H.R. 3022), H1624 [24AP]

Health care professionals: establish real-time data dashboard for graduate medical education training positions to improve health care workforce planning and distribution (see S. 3038), S7729 [23OC]

——— increase number of physicians who may be provided waivers of foreign residence requirement to practice in rural and medically underserved communities (see H.R. 1201), H644 [11FE]

——— provide incentives to foreign-born physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved communities (see S. 709), S1345 [25FE] (see H.R. 1585), H836 [25FE]

Health Resources and Services Administration: authorize rural residency planning and development grant programs (see H.R. 6468), H5050 [4DE]

——— maintain Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (see H.R. 6407), H5025 [3DE]

——— provide community-based training opportunities for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities (see H.R. 3885), H2614 [10JN]

——— reauthorize certain rural health care programs (see H.R. 2493), H1372 [31MR]

Housing: establish permanent rural housing preservation and revitalization program (see S. 885), S1604 [6MR]

——— facilitate development of fair and affordable housing and decrease housing costs (see H.R. 6771), H6020 [17DE]

——— reform rural housing programs (see S. 1260), S2140 [2AP] (see H.R. 4957), H3692 [12AU]

Medicaid: clarify that rural emergency hospitals are treated as outpatient hospitals for purposes of Medicaid payment (see H.R. 4277), H3188 [2JY]

——— facilitate direct primary care arrangements (see S. 3298), S8447 [2DE] (see H.R. 1162), H613 [10FE]

——— repeal changes to State provider tax authority and State directed payments and provide increased funding for rural health transformation program (see S. 2279), S4368 [15JY]

Medicare: adjust eligibility for rural emergency hospital designation (see H.R. 6596), H5560 [10DE]

——— continue designation of hospitals meeting mountainous terrain or secondary roads distance requirement as critical access hospitals and modify distance requirements for ambulance services furnished by such hospitals (see S. 1960), S3254 [5JN] (see H.R. 3778), H2505 [5JN]

——— ensure adequate coverage of annual wellness visits at rural health clinics (see H.R. 3878), H2614 [10JN]

——— ensure high-quality remote physiologic monitoring services for beneficiaries in rural and underserved areas (see S. 1535), S2714 [30AP] (see H.R. 3108), H1774 [30AP]

——— expand definition of critical access hospital to include certain hospitals on Indian reservations (see H.R. 4258), H3036 [30JN] (see H.R. 4345), H3199 [10JY]

——— extend certain telehealth flexibilities (see S. 2709), S6319 [4SE] (see H.R. 5081), H3756 [2SE]

——— extend certain telehealth flexibilities relative to hospice care and establish modifier for recertifications of hospice care eligibility conducted through telehealth (see H.R. 1720), H916 [27FE]

——— maintain standards for qualification as rural health clinic (see H.R. 5198), H3891 [8SE]

——— make permanent certain telehealth flexibilities (see H.R. 2263), H1188 [21MR] (see H.R. 6296), H4901 [25NO]

——— modify criteria for designation as rural emergency hospital (see S. 1800), S2971 [19MY] (see H.R. 1775), H943 [3MR]

——— modify Rural Flex program (see H.R. 6804), H6022 [17DE]

——— permit States to designate facilities located in rural areas as critical access hospitals without any mileage limitations (see H.R. 771), H402 [28JA]

——— provide for coverage of certain pharmacist services in underserved areas (see S. 2800), S6599 [15SE]

——— provide for permanent payments for telehealth services furnished by federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics (see H.R. 5496), H4454 [18SE]

——— provide for treatment of certain hospitals as critical access hospitals (see H.R. 5821), H4552 [24OC]

——— reauthorize Rural Flex program (see S. 3250), S8274 [20NO]

——— reform graduate medical education program to support rural residency training funding that is equitable for all States (see H.R. 1153), H612 [10FE]

——— remove certain limitations on delivery of behavioral health services at rural health clinics (see H.R. 5217), H3892 [8SE]

——— remove physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services (see H.R. 538), H220 [16JA]

——— remove requirement that off-campus facilities or organizations shall be located within certain radius of hospital or critical access hospital (see H.R. 772), H403 [28JA]

——— restore State authority to waive mileage rule for designating critical access hospitals for certain facilities (see S. 502), S819 [10FE] (see H.R. 6240), H4875 [20NO]

——— revise certain physician self-referral exemptions relative to physician-owned hospitals (see S. 1390), S2521 [9AP] (see H.R. 2191), H1169 [18MR]

——— waive certain distance requirements for certain hospitals electing to be designated as critical access hospitals (see S. 521), S859 [11FE] (see H.R. 1191), H643 [11FE]

Medicare/Medicaid: provide for enhanced payments to rural health care providers (see H.R. 3684), H2418 [3JN]

Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day: designate (see S. Res. 143), S1872 [26MR]

National Rural Health Day: designate (see S. Res. 507), S8239 [19NO]

——— support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 891), H4770 [18NO]

National STEM Week: establish (see S. 1070), S1776 [14MR]

National Telecommunications and Information Administration: authorize recipients of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program funding to provide broadband vouchers to households in certain locations (see H.R. 2750), H1507 [8AP]

——— authorize use of remaining Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program funds for competitive subgrants to support funded broadband deployment projects (see S. 3565), S8920 [18DE] (see H.R. 6920), H6125 [23DE]

——— improve Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (see H.R. 1870), H1008 [5MR]

——— submit report to Congress on plan to implement online application portal for placement of communications facilities on Federal lands (see H.R. 1343), H708 [13FE]

Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act: amend (see S. 637), S1040 [19FE] (see H.R. 1482), H727 [21FE]

Postal Service: apply certain requirements when closing processing, shipping, delivery, or other facility supporting post office (see S. 661), S1127 [20FE] (see H.R. 1473), H727 [21FE]

——— prohibit implementation of Regional Transportation Optimization initiative if determined it will negatively affect rural communities (see S. 1604), S2774 [6MY]

——— reimburse fees charged for late payment of bills delayed in mail (see H.R. 431), H184 [15JA]

Roads and highways: establish agricultural and rural road improvement program (see H.R. 4585), H3551 [22JY]

Safe Drinking Water Act: reauthorize technical assistance to small public water systems and assistance for small and disadvantaged communities program (see S. 3465), S8671 [11DE]

SBA: clarify Office of Rural Affairs responsibilities (see H.R. 4549), H3525 [21JY]

——— enhance Office of Rural Affairs (see S. 1093), S1802 [24MR]

——— exclude from limit on leverage certain amounts invested in smaller enterprises located in rural or low-income areas and small businesses in critical technology areas (see S. 1917), S3117 [22MY] (see S. 3341), S8483 [3DE] (see H.R. 2066), H1149 [11MR]

——— improve access to disaster assistance for individuals in rural areas (see S. 1703), S2838 [8MY] (see H.R. 804), H404 [28JA]

SEC: expand access to capital for rural small businesses (see S. 577), S971 [13FE] (see H.R. 1190), H643 [11FE]

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act: extend (see S. 356), S544 [3FE] (see H.R. 1383), H714 [14FE] (see H.R. 6535), H5111 [9DE]

Social Security: enhance financial support for rural and safety net hospitals providing maternity, labor, and delivery services to vulnerable populations (see S. 2059), S3389 [12JN] (see H.R. 3942), H2818 [12JN]

States: make ineligible to receive funds under certain Federal programs unless State has in effect law restricting purchase of agricultural land by certain foreign persons (see H.R. 1184), H643 [11FE]

Taxation: allow refundable credit for purchase of communications signal boosters in areas with inadequate broadband Internet access service (see H.R. 1020), H503 [5FE]

——— clarify treatment of locum tenens physicians and advanced care practitioners as independent contractors to help alleviate physician shortages, including in underserved areas (see H.R. 1160), H613 [10FE]

——— enhance rehabilitation credit for buildings in rural areas (see S. 631), S1040 [19FE] (see H.R. 1454), H726 [21FE]

——— establish tax credit and grant program to stimulate investment and healthy nutrition options in food deserts (see S. 1176), S1905 [27MR] (see H.R. 2473), H1337 [27MR]

——— exclude from gross income interest received on certain loans secured by agricultural real property (see S. 838), S1496 [4MR] (see H.R. 1822), H974 [4MR]

——— extend certain incentives related to empowerment zones to District of Columbia (see H.R. 6537), H5111 [9DE]

——— 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. 1210), S1924 [31MR] (see H.R. 2507), H1373 [31MR]

——— provide exclusion for assistance provided to certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness program participants (see S. 1163), S1905 [27MR] (see H.R. 2398), H1334 [27MR]

——— reform low-income housing credit (see H.R. 2725), H1505 [8AP]

Telecommunications: expand middle mile infrastructure into rural areas (see H.R. 5037), H3710 [26AU]

Water: establish trust fund to provide adequate funding for water and sewer infrastructure (see S. 1730), S2895 [13MY] (see H.R. 3376), H2000 [13MY]

Weather: require study of rural weather monitoring systems (see H.R. 4239), H3032 [27JN]

Women: improve obstetric emergency care (see S. 380), S593 [4FE] (see H.R. 1254), H675 [12FE]

Explanations

Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations, S8043–S8080 [9NO]

Remarks in House

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations, H4228 [10SE], H4595, H4652, H4654, H4659, H4663 [12NO], H4712 [18NO]

Black’s Willow Run Family Farm: Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture Century Farm designee, H4671 [17NO]

California: impact of partisan redistricting and gerrymandering, H4320 [16SE]

Cambria County, PA: Barr Ridge Farms recipient of Cambria County Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year award, H5059 [9DE]

Cameron Elk Suicide Prevention Task Force: Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health Progam of the Year Award recipient, H5124 [10DE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: extend eligibility for allotments under Rural Health Transformation Program to District of Columbia (H.R. 5003), E777 [19AU]

Centre County, PA: tribure to Centre County Grange Fair, H3843 [4SE]

Clinic Drug Store, Inc.: SBA Georgia Rural Small Business of the Year Award recipient, E804 [2SE]

Colorado: make certain modifications to repayment for Arkansas Valley Conduit (H.R. 131), H3497, H3498 [21JY]

Congressional Western Caucus: legislative priorities, H1325–H1330 [27MR]

Dept. of Agriculture: establish program to provide technical assistance to rural communities in recovering from disasters (H.R. 6462), H5040 [4DE]

——— expand and codify Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program and rename as Rural Health Care Facility Technical Assistance Program (H.R. 1417), H4766 [18NO]

——— make grants to States to support establishment of grocery stores in underserved areas (H.R. 484), E41 [16JA]

——— provide rural partnership program grants and rural partnership technical assistance grants (H.R. 6041), H4765 [18NO]

Dept. of Defense: circuit rider health program funding, E689 [17JY]

Dept. of Energy: establish initiative to provide grants to fund development of resilient energy systems in remote, island, and Tribal communities (H.R. 4025), E582 [17JN]

Dept. of HHS: establish home-based telemental health care grant program to increase mental health services in rural medically underserved populations and in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations, H4253 [11SE]

Dept. of Justice: establish grant program to reduce number of individuals incarcerated in local jails and number of days such individuals are incarcerated and support community-led local justice reinvestment (H.R. 2669), H1568 [10AP]

Dept. of Transportation: exempt Northern Mariana Islands from certain eligibility requirements for essential air service program (H.R. 2132), E216 [14MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: authorize certain departmental heath care professionals to deliver, distribute, or dispense to veterans certain controlled medications via telemedicine under certain conditions (H.R. 1107), H4279–H4281 [15SE]

——— expand and modify Highly Rural Transportation Grant Program (H.R. 1733), H924 [3MR]

Depts. of Agriculture and HUD: enter into memorandum of understanding relating to housing projects (H.R. 4989), H5037 [4DE]

Farabaugh Family Farm: Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture Century Farm designee, H3866 [8SE]

FCC: establish vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost Universal Service Program funding (H.R. 2399), H1662, H1663 [28AP]

——— Universal Service Program funding, H1321 [27MR]

Federal aid programs: nutrition assistance programs funding, H2899 [24JN]

——— provide technical assistance for geographically underserved and distressed areas, H4977 [2DE]

Foreign investments: amend certain laws with respect to foreign investments in U.S. agriculture (H.R. 1576), H924 [3MR]

Gayaldo, Robert: Lake County, CA, Farm Bureau Board Member of the Year honoree, E695 [21JY]

Health: ensure access to quality, affordable health care in rural areas, H4461 [19SE]

——— importance of access to and investment in rural health care infrastructure, H4762, H4763, H4764, H4765, H4766 [18NO]

Health Resources and Services Administration: provide community-based training opportunities for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities (H.R. 3885), H4766 [18NO]

Madison, VA: tribute to Madison County High School participation in T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights competition, E1021 [31OC]

Medicaid: rural community hospital funding, H2925 [25JN]

Medicare: provide coverage for telehealth services, H775 [25FE]

——— provide for permanent payments for telehealth services furnished by federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics (H.R. 5496), H4762, H4766 [18NO]

——— reform graduate medical education program to support rural residency training funding that is equitable for all States (H.R. 1153), H4766 [18NO]

——— remove certain limitations on delivery of behavioral health services at rural health clinics (H.R. 5217), H4766 [18NO]

Medicare/Medicaid: provide for enhanced payments to rural health care providers (H.R. 3684), H4825 [20NO]

Mental Health Awareness Month: observance, H2152 [20MY]

Millin Family Farm: Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture Bicentennial Farm designee, H3719 [2SE]

——— Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture Century Farm designee, H158 [15JA]

Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL) Program: anniversary, H5031 [4DE]

National Rural Health Day: observance, H4762, H4763, H4764 [18NO], H4824, H4825 [20NO], E1093 [19NO]

——— support goals and ideals (H. Res. 891), H4765 [18NO]

National Rural Health Month: observance, H4715 [18NO], H4853 [20NO]

North Carolina: tribute to First Congressional District sheriff’s meeting, H2495 [5JN]

OMB: temporary pause of Federal agency grant, loan, and other financial assistance programs, H778 [25FE]

Partsch Family Farm: Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture Century Farm designee, H3866 [8SE]

Public lands: call for local input in decision making prior to acquisition or disposition, H2203 [21MY]

——— impact of government regulations and Federal land expansion on land use and management policies, H666 [12FE]

——— impact of potential sale or transfer, H2841, H2881 [23JN]

SBA: clarify Office of Rural Affairs responsibilities (H.R. 4549), H4916–H4917 [1DE]

——— exclude from limit on leverage certain amounts invested in smaller enterprises located in rural or low-income areas and small businesses in critical technology areas (H.R. 2066), H1862 [6MY], H4918, H4919 [1DE]

——— improve access to disaster assistance for individuals in rural areas (H.R. 804), H745, H746 [24FE]

Scully, Phil and Toni: Lake County, CA, Farm Bureau Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, E693 [21JY]

Sears, Bonnie: Lake County, CA, Farm Bureau honoree, E696 [21JY]

SEC: expand access to capital for rural small businesses (H.R. 1190), H2873–H2875 [23JN]

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act: extend, H1988 [13MY], H2577 [10JN]

——— extend (H.R. 1383), H899 [27FE], H1076 [11MR], H1805 [1MY]

——— extend (S. 356), H3846 [4SE], H5064, H5066–H5071 [9DE], H5121 [10DE]

Taxation: extend certain incentives related to empowerment zones to District of Columbia (H.R. 6537), E1161 [9DE]

——— reform low-income housing credit, H2344 [21MY], H2979 [26JN]

Virgin Islands: rural hospitals funding, H2658 [12JN]

Washington (State): reduction of gray wolf population, H5064 [9DE]

——— tribute to FFA students, H3532 [22JY]

Winell Zaitz Farm: Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture Century Farm designee, H437 [4FE]

Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, Inc.: tribute to participation in ‘‘Light Up Navajo’’ initiative, E563, E566, E567, E569, E570, E573 [12JN]

Remarks in Senate

Agriculture: impact of high input costs and low commodity prices, S7124 [15OC]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: funding reduction, S5197 [1AU]

——— making appropriations, S4689 [24JY], S4980–S4984 [31JY], S5189 [1AU], S8041, S8042 [9NO], S8113–S8115, S8122, S8124 [10NO]

——— making appropriations (S. 2256), S4323 [14JY]

Budget: prohibit any budget reconciliation provision that would increase likelihood of rural hospitals being forced to close, convert, or reduce or stop providing services, S4043 [30JN]

——— prohibit rescission of Corp. for Public Broadcasting funding that supports public radio or television stations that primarily serve rural areas or Tribal communities, S4401, S4402 [16JY]

——— prohibit rescission of Corp. for Public Broadcasting funding that supports public safety, S4401 [16JY]

——— prohibit rescission of Corp. for Public Broadcasting funding to public broadcasting stations that participate in emergency alert system, S4402 [16JY]

——— strike reconciliation instructions requiring cuts to programs critical to rural Americans and food assistance for American families, S1115 [20FE], S2345 [4AP]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: ensure proper distribution of additional Medicare residency positions to rural areas, S2743 [5MY]

——— Rural Community Hospital Demonstration funding, S2983 [20MY]

——— Rural Health Transformation Program funding, S6910 [2OC]

——— Rural Health Transformation Program funding through increase in highest individual tax rates, S4061 [30JN]

Colorado: make certain modifications to repayment for Arkansas Valley Conduit (H.R. 131), S8766–S8770 [16DE]

Congress: accomplishments of 119th Congress, S8888–S8891 [18DE]

Conservation of natural resources: establish interest-bearing account for non-Federal contributions to Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (S. 291), S482 [29JA]

Dept. of Agriculture: reform and continue agricultural and other programs, S1841 [26MR]

Dept. of HHS: prohibit from implementing, enforcing, or otherwise giving effect to final rule regarding minimum staffing for nursing facilities and establish advisory panel on nursing home workforce (S. 750), S1399 [26FE]

FCC: establish vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost Universal Service Program funding (S. 98), S3570 [26JN]

Federal aid programs: nutrition assistance programs funding, S2300 [4AP]

Health: establish deficit-neutral reserve fund to prevent reduction in Medicaid funding potentially leading to rural hospital closures, cost increases for those using other kinds of insurance, or higher rates of uncompensated care, S2356 [4AP]

Health care facilities: rural community hospital funding, S4958 [31JY], S7659 [21OC]

Medicaid: children’s hospitals, disproportionate share hospitals, and rural hospitals funding, S4081 [30JN]

——— facilitate direct primary care arrangements (S. 3298), S8597 [10DE]

Medicare: impact of Rural Emergency Hospital program, S7143 [16OC]

——— provide for coverage of certain pharmacist services in underserved areas, S197 [16JA]

Mental health: ensure access to mental health care providers and services for farmers and ranchers, S6943 [6OC]

Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day: designate (S. Res. 143), S2965, S2966 [19MY]

National Rural Health Day: designate (S. Res. 507), S8248 [19NO]

National Telecommunications and Information Administration: Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program funding, S3361 [12JN]

——— reform Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, S1880 [27MR]

One Big Beautiful Bill Act: impact, S4446–S4448 [17JY], S4521–S4524 [22JY], S4618 [23JY], S4786 [29JY]

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act: extend (S. 356), S3103, S3104 [22MY], S3458–S3461 [18JN]

Reports filed

Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Programs Appropriations: Committee on Appropriations (House) (H.R. 4121) (H. Rept. 119–172), H2968 [25JN]

——— Committee on Appropriations (Senate) (S. 2256) (S. Rept. 119–37), S4314 [10JY]

Community Bank Deposit Access Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 5317) (H. Rept. 119–369), H4572 [4NO]

Dept. of HHS Telehealth Network and Telehealth Resource Centers Grant Programs Reauthorization: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 3419) (H. Rept. 119–322), H4515 [3OC]

Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 1190) (H. Rept. 119–122), H2417 [3JN]

Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 131) (H. Rept. 119–187), H3197 [10JY]

Health Resources and Services Administration Rural Health Care Programs Reauthorization: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 2493) (H. Rept. 119–325), H4515 [3OC]

Interest-Bearing Account for Non-Federal Contributions to Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Establishment: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 831) (H. Rept. 119–278), H4308 [15SE]

Investing in All of America Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 2066) (H. Rept. 119–227), H3697 [15AU]

Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 850), S7868 [3NO]

Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 4549) (H. Rept. 119–225), H3697 [15AU]

Promoting New Bank Formation Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 478) (H. Rept. 119–90), H1879 [6MY]

Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 1107) (H. Rept. 119–221), H3661 [29JY]

Reform Appraisals for Value of Federal Payments to Certain Minnesota Counties for Land Located Within Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Senate) (S. 638), S7753 [27OC]

Rural Broadband Protection Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 98) (S. Rept. 119–14), S2607 [28AP]

——— Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 2399) (H. Rept. 119–78), H1622 [24AP]

Rural Health Care Programs Reauthorization: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 2301), S6401 [8SE]

Rural Small Business Resilience Act: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Senate) (S. 1703), S4816 [29JY]

Texts of

H.R. 131, Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, H3497 [21JY]

H.R. 804, Rural Small Business Resilience Act, H745 [24FE]

H.R. 1107, Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act, H4279 [15SE]

H.R. 1190, Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act, H2873 [23JN]

H.R. 2066, Investing in All of America Act, H4918 [1DE]

H.R. 2399, Rural Broadband Protection Act, H1662 [28AP]

H.R. 4549, Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act, H4916 [1DE]

S. 98, Rural Broadband Protection Act, S3570 [26JN]

S. 356, extend Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, H5066 [9DE]

S. 356, Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act extension, S3459 [18JN]

S. 502, Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act, S820 [10FE]

S. 866, Accelerating Broadband Permits Act, S1581 [5MR]

S. 1210, Helping To Encourage Real Opportunities (HERO) for Youth Act, S1926 [31MR]

S. 2093, Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act, S3437 [17JN]

S. Res. 143, Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day, S1877 [26MR]

S. Res. 364, recognize anniversary of EPA renewable fuel standard and its foundational role in strengthening energy security, supporting rural communities, growing U.S. economy, and improving environmental performance, S5211 [1AU]

S. Res. 507, National Rural Health Day, S8244 [19NO]