Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025
Floor Speech
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Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2493) to reauthorize certain programs regarding rural health care.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2493
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. RURAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES OUTREACH, RURAL HEALTH NETWORK DEVELOPMENT, AND SMALL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAMS.
(a) Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grants.--Section 330A(e) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Use of funds for rural underserved populations.--In awarding a grant under this subsection, the Director shall ensure that the funds made available through the grant will be used, as appropriate--
``(A) to meet the health care needs of rural underserved populations in the local community or region to be served; and
``(B) for other activities to ensure the rural underserved populations in the local community or region to be served will be involved in the development and ongoing operations of the project.''.
(b) Rural Health Network Development Grants.--Section 330A(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Use of funds for rural underserved populations.--In awarding a grant under this subsection, the Director shall ensure that the funds made available through the grant will be used, as appropriate--
``(A) to increase access to quality health care services through integrated health care networks for the rural underserved populations in the local community or region to be served; and
``(B) for other activities to ensure the rural underserved populations in the local community or region to be served will benefit from and be involved in the planning, development, and ongoing implementation of the network.''.
(c) Reauthorization.--Section 330A(j) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c(j)) is amended by striking ``2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``2026 through 2030''.
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Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2493, the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025, led by my friend from Georgia, Congressman Carter.
Too often where a patient lives determines whether they are able to access adequate healthcare services, and patients who live in rural areas, in particular, often face barriers like a shortage of local providers and transportation challenges of traveling longer distances to reach points of care.
To overcome these challenges and build toward a healthier future, we must continue leveraging tools like telehealth to ensure that rural and underserved communities have access to quality healthcare.
H.R. 2493 reauthorizes grant programs that utilize integrated healthcare networks to help connect patients to high quality care. More specifically, the programs we are reauthorizing will help address critical healthcare gaps in rural communities such as access to preventive screenings and chronic disease management while improving services in primary care settings.
We must continue to invest in these community-driven policies to promote better health outcomes for rural and underserved populations.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
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Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).
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Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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