IMPROVING CARE IN RURAL AMERICA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2025

On 2026-04-21, Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-1) delivered a floor speech titled "IMPROVING CARE IN RURAL AMERICA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2025" in the House. The speech addressed healthcare and also covered the economy, taxes. It referenced legislation: HR2493.

IMPROVING CARE IN RURAL AMERICA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2025

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)] [House] [Pages H3021-H3023] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] IMPROVING CARE IN RURAL AMERICA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2025 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 [[Page H3022]] 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''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Tennessee. General Leave Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on the bill. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Tennessee? There was no objection. 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. I thank the sponsors, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2493, the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act. H.R. 2493 reauthorizes programs at the Health Resources & Services Administration that increase access to healthcare services in rural communities. Rural communities often face significant challenges to accessing quality healthcare, including provider shortages, hospital closures, and long travel times to medical facilities. Rural communities also often face higher rates of poverty and unemployment which can contribute to poor health outcomes. {time} 1430 The community-based programs extended by this bill address the unique needs of the rural communities they serve by collaborating with local networks and partnering organizations. This includes implementing disease prevention and health promotion activities and enhancing healthcare delivery. The programs also include the Healthy Rural Hometown Initiative, a targeted program that works to address the underlying factors contributing to the five leading causes of death in the United States. That would be heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory disease. This is an important bill, and I am hopeful that it will gain strong bipartisan support. This legislation comes at the same time rural communities are being devastated by the $1 trillion in healthcare cuts Republicans passed in their big, ugly bill. These cuts are going to have a disproportionate impact on rural Americans. Rural clinics and maternity care centers are already being forced to close their doors, and another 300 rural hospitals are likely to shutter, closing down altogether or reducing services. Madam Speaker, I am pleased that we are considering this legislation to extend these programs. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2493, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter). Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 2493, the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill that ensures Americans, no matter where they live, have access to quality healthcare. Let me be clear, healthcare outcomes should not depend on your ZIP Code. Today, for millions of Americans living in rural communities, that is exactly the reality. Rural residents face serious barriers to care: provider shortages, long travel distances, hospital closures, and limited access to specialists. The consequences are real. Rural Americans experience a 43-percent higher mortality rate compared to those in urban and suburban areas. That is simply unacceptable. This legislation is about addressing those disparities head-on. The Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act builds on improving programs that are already making a difference in communities across the country. Specifically, this bill reauthorizes critical rural health grant programs through 2030, programs that expand access to care, improve care coordination, strengthen rural health networks, and support quality improvement for providers. These are not just theoretical ideas. They are programs with a track record of success. In fact, more than 85 percent of grant recipients have demonstrated measurable improvements in clinical outcomes, including better control of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. That means healthier patients, stronger communities, and lower costs. One of the most important aspects of this bill is that it provides community-driven solutions. We are not imposing a one-size-fits-all approach from Washington. Instead, we are empowering local providers, local leaders, and local communities to identify their own needs and build solutions that work for them. The bill ensures that rural communities are directly involved in planning and implementing these programs so that care is tailored, targeted, and effective. That is how you get results. As a pharmacist, I have seen firsthand how critical access to care is, especially in rural areas where providers are already stretched thin. This legislation also helps to expand telehealth services so patients can access care without traveling hours, improve coordination between providers to reduce gaps in care, and strengthen small clinics and hospitals that are often the backbone of rural communities. When a rural hospital closes, it is not just the loss of healthcare. It is a loss of jobs, a loss of economic stability, and a loss of security for the entire community. At the end of the day, this bill is about fairness. It is about making sure that whether you live in a big city or a small town, you have access to the care you need. It is about strengthening our rural communities, improving health outcomes, and ensuring that no American is left behind. We have an opportunity today to build on successful programs, deliver real results, and make a meaningful difference in people's lives. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation, [[Page H3023]] particularly for rural areas. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bil

Referenced legislation: HR2493, HR2493