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Recognizing National Rural Health Day

Floor Speech

Date: Nov. 21, 2019
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health and Health Care

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Ms. PLASKETT. Madam Speaker, today is National Rural Health Day.

More than 60 million Americans live in rural areas. Unfortunately, these individuals tend to be in poorer health than those who live in urban and suburban areas. They experience greater rates of chronic disease than the rest of the U.S. population.

The U.S. Virgin Islands is one of these rural areas. Like most rural America, the VI has high rates of chronic disease, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and experience unique challenges in accessing healthcare.

The Virgin Islands, however, due to geographic distance from the contiguous United States and our territorial status, face even further challenges, including inequitable Federal funding. Our health providers and families have to make difficult decisions, not based on care but on distance and funding.

All Americans deserve easy accessibility to high quality healthcare. I want to take this time to recognize the healthcare providers in the Virgin Islands for their tireless work and commitment to the health and well-being of our people.

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