Issues / Issue · Aug 3 – Oct 6, 2026
Rural Health Care
Members of Congress are announcing federal funding and urging continued support for rural healthcare initiatives. Republicans announced approximately $109.5 million in funding across multiple states for rural hospital operations, workforce training, and opioid response services. Democrats introduced legislation to protect rural hospitals and addressed rural broadband service issues, while a bipartisan Iowa delegation urged CMS to maintain rural health transformation funding.
AI summary of the releases below · Oct 8, 2026
How the conversation moved
Democrat Republican · one dot = one action| Action type | Wk ofJul 9 | Wk ofJul 16 | Wk ofJul 23 | Wk ofJul 308 | Wk ofAug 69 | Wk ofAug 139 | Wk ofAug 208 | Wk ofAug 2717 | Wk ofSep 38 | Wk ofSep 1013 | Wk ofSep 1711 | Wk ofSep 249 | Wk ofOct 110 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Requested actionDeclarations, investigations, decisions | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Sent lettersTo agencies, companies, officials | 13 | |||||||||||||
| HearingsHeld, testified or questioned | 2 | |||||||||||||
| PraisedCredit for a decision or person | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Visits and eventsTours, town halls, site visits | 19 | |||||||||||||
| Announced fundingGrants and approvals | 47 | |||||||||||||
| Filed or pushed billsNew, reintroduced or passed | 18 | |||||||||||||
| Other | 1 |
Where they stand
Support · 12
- RMiller-Meeks IAUrged CMS to support rural health care funding request
- RGrassley IAUrged CMS support for Rural Health Transformation Program funding in Iowa
- RNunn IAUrged CMS to continue second year of Rural Health Transformation Funding
- RFedorchak NDIntroduced bill extending rural hospital demonstration program
- RHoeven NDIntroduced bill extending FCHIP to improve rural hospital care
- RRulli OHIntroduced CHC REBASE Act to improve Medicare payments
- RBoebert COPraised Rural Health Transformation Program funding for Colorado providers
- DVasquez NMDemanded VA expand in-person assistance and place liaison in rural New Mexico
- RNewhouse WAUrged CMS to enable Critical Access Hospital status for Astria Toppenish
- RCrane AZSupports medical education partnership to improve rural physician recruitment.
- RTuberville ALIntroduced bill to strengthen rural hospital access to federal resources
- DPingree MEUrged hospital to explore all options to preserve maternity services
Oppose · 7
- DRiley NYOpposed Verizon's plan to discontinue rural copper landline service
- DDavids KSIntroduced package to counter healthcare rollbacks and hospital closures
- DWarner VAUrged CMS to reconsider remote monitoring restrictions
- DSchumer NYOpposes Medicaid cuts; introduced bill to reverse them
- DWyden ORDemanded reversal of unlawful cuts to school-based mental health services funding
- DSchiff CADemanded Education Department restore school-based mental health grant funding
- RCiscomani AZOpposed closure of tribal health facility
What each party did · Democrats 32 · Republicans 70
- 0Requested action1
- 8Sent letters5
- 1Hearings1
- 0Praised1
- 8Visits and events11
- 6Announced funding41
- 9Filed or pushed bills9
- 0Other1
Most active
By state
+31 more with fewer actions
Every action
102 actions · 112 releases- Oct 6, 2026
- Letter
Joined Iowa delegation urging CMS to support rural health care funding through Healthy Hometowns program.
- Letter
RGrassley IA $209M
Led Iowa delegation letter urging CMS to support rural healthcare funding request.
- Visit
- Funding
RJackson TX $51M
Applauded $51 million Trump administration investment in rural healthcare across Texas.
- Request
- Letter
- Oct 5, 2026
- Letter
- Bill
Introduced healthcare legislation package to lower costs and protect rural Kansas hospitals.
- Oct 2, 2026
- Funding
DDurbin IL $300K
Announced $300,000 in federal funding for Jersey Community Hospital District rural EMS training.
- Funding
- Oct 1, 2026
- Funding
RMcClain MI $750K
Announced $750,000 in federal funding for rural opioid response services in Michigan.
- Funding
RAderholt AL $55M
Announced $55 million federal funding to improve rural healthcare workforce and maternal care in Alabama.
- Funding
- Sep 30, 2026
- Funding
RHyde-Smith MS $2.8M
Announced $2.8 million grant for Mississippi Delta rural healthcare network development.
- Funding
- Funding
- Sep 29, 2026
- Funding
RHyde-Smith MS $2.8M
Announced $2.8 million grant to improve rural healthcare networks in Mississippi Delta region.
- Funding
- Sep 28, 2026
- Funding
RArrington TX $51M
Announced $51 million in rural health investment for Texas through the Rural Health Transformation Program.
- Funding
RBresnahan PA $2.8M
Announced $2.8 million in federal grants to The Wright Center for medical education programs.
- Funding
- Funding
- Sep 25, 2026
- Funding
RMiller-Meeks IA $15.9M
Announced $15.9 million for rural cancer screenings and prevention in Iowa.
- Funding
- Funding
- Sep 24, 2026
- Funding
- Sep 23, 2026
- Bill
Introduced legislation to extend Frontier Community Health Integration Project for five years.
- Letter
- Bill
Introduced bill to expand access to long-acting reversible contraception in rural communities.
- Visit
- Bill
- Sep 22, 2026
- Funding
RWagner MO $45M
Announced $45 million for rural Missouri hospital and healthcare improvements.
- Funding
- Sep 21, 2026
- Visit
Highlighted constituent's internship at local eye clinic and diabetes education center.
- Visit
- Sep 17, 2026
- Visit
Met with CMS Administrator to discuss health care access and Medicare funding for Guam.
- Bill
RBarrett MI $10K
Introduced bipartisan bill to provide tax credits for health professionals serving rural areas.
- Bill
- Bill
Introduced bipartisan Revitalize Rural America Act to expand rural health care and agriculture support.
- Funding
RNorman SC $167M
Announced $167 million in rural health grants for 228 South Carolina healthcare providers.
- Visit
- Sep 16, 2026
- Bill
Introduced REACH Act offering $10,000 annual tax credit to health providers in rural areas.
- Hearing
Secured Surgeon General nominee commitment to address rural health care gaps in Maine.
- Funding
RCollins ME $600K
Announced $600,000 in federal grants for rural emergency medical services in Maine.
- Bill
- Bill
- Sep 15, 2026
- Funding
RHyde-Smith MS $3.8M
Announced $3.75 million in federal grants to 20 Mississippi rural hospitals for workforce support.
- Bill
- Funding
- Funding
- Sep 14, 2026
- Funding
RMarshall KS $17M
Applauded nearly $17 million in CMS funding for rural Kansas healthcare programs.
- Funding
- Funding
RMoran KS, DOssoff GA $16M
Announced $16 million in federal investments for Kansas rural health providers.
- Praise
RBoebert CO $200.1M
Highlighted her role in securing $200.1 million in rural health funding for Colorado through the Rural Health Transformation Program.
- Funding
- Sep 11, 2026
- Funding
- Sep 10, 2026
- Visit
- Sep 8, 2026
- Funding
RWicker MS, RGuest MS, RHyde-Smith MS $4.3M
Secured $4.25 million for University of Mississippi Medical Center telehealth center of excellence.
- Funding
DMcBride DE $5M
Celebrated $5 million in federal investments to expand rural healthcare access in Sussex County.
- Funding
- Sep 4, 2026
- Funding
RLangworthy NY $76.2M
Announced $76.2 million investment to strengthen rural health care services across New York.
- Bill
Introduced bill to reverse Medicaid cuts and restore ACA tax credits for rural health care.
- Visit
- Funding
- Funding
- Sep 3, 2026
- Bill
Introduced bipartisan bill to improve Rural Emergency Hospital designation program.
- Funding
RSmith MO $1.7M
Secured $1.7 million for Salem Memorial Hospital through Rural Health Transformation Program.
- Bill
- Sep 2, 2026
- Letter
Sent letter to VA demanding expanded rural veterans services and a liaison in Socorro.
- Visit
- Visit
- Letter
- Sep 1, 2026
- Letter
Urged CMS to create pathway for Critical Access Hospital status for tribal hospital.
- Visit
DShaheen NH $1.7M
Visited hospital and trail project funded by congressionally directed spending she secured.
- Funding
RCramer ND $667K
Announced $667,064 in HHS funding for North Dakota public health and rural health programs.
- Letter
- Aug 31, 2026
- Funding
RCotton AR $149.3M
Praised $149.3 million Rural Health Transformation Program investment for Arkansas.
- Letter
Demanded Puerto Rico health department answers on Culebra's hospital facility operator change.
- Funding
- Aug 29, 2026
- Funding
RHyde-Smith MS $5.7M
Secured $5.7 million in federal funding for Southwest Primary Care facility in Mississippi.
- Funding
- Aug 28, 2026
- Visit
Hosted CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz for visit to discuss rural healthcare and drug pricing.
- Visit
DDuckworth IL $1.2M
Visited John A. Logan College to highlight $1.2 million federal nursing program expansion.
- Visit
- Funding
RMiller WV $750K
Applauded $750,000 rural residency planning grant to Princeton Community Hospital.
- Visit
- Aug 27, 2026
- Funding
RCramer ND $3.3M
Announced $3.3 million in HHS funding to North Dakota for Head Start and rural health programs.
- Visit
Attended roundtable with ambulance service leaders discussing EMS challenges in rural Minnesota.
- Funding
- Letter
Demanded Trump administration restore school-based mental health grant funding.
- Funding
- Aug 26, 2026
- Funding
DGluesenkamp Perez WA $1.3M
Toured rural hospital and announced $1.25 million in federal funding for imaging services and women's clinic.
- Visit
Celebrated opening of new emergency department at Marshall Health Network in West Virginia.
- Funding
- Aug 25, 2026
- Funding
RAderholt AL $144M
Announced $144 million federal investment to improve rural healthcare access and workforce in Alabama.
- Letter
RBarr KY $212.9M
Sent letter to governor questioning rural hospital closure claims.
- Visit
- Funding
- Aug 24, 2026
- Funding
- Aug 21, 2026
- Funding
RJustice WV $4.2M
Applauded Trump administration's $4.2 million investment in West Virginia rural healthcare access.
- Funding
- Aug 20, 2026
- Funding
- Aug 19, 2026
- Visit
Visited Bon Secours Southampton Memorial Hospital to discuss healthcare access in Western Tidewater.
- Visit
- Aug 17, 2026
- Funding
DSchumer NY $6.2M
Pushed for $6.2 million federal funding to train healthcare workers at Alfred State College.
- Funding
DSchumer NY $1.6M
Delivered $1.6 million federal investment and opened rural healthcare clinic at Keuka College.
- Funding
- Aug 14, 2026
- Funding
RCramer ND $4.3M
Announced $4.34 million in HHS grants for health initiatives in North Dakota.
- Letter
Demanded HHS reverse cancellation of health research grants for patient safety and rural care.
- Funding
- Aug 13, 2026
- Visit
Hosted rural healthcare roundtable and criticized Medicaid cuts threatening hospital closures.
- Funding
RMarshall KS $284.6M
Announced $221.9 million in rural health care funding and $62.7 million for infrastructure.
- Funding
RCammack FL $42.2M
Announced $42.2 million in Rural Health Transformation Program investments for North Central Florida.
- Funding
- Visit
- Aug 12, 2026
- Letter
Urged HHS Secretary Kennedy to keep Tucson Indian Health Services facility open.
- Funding
RCiscomani AZ $2M
Announced $2 million in preliminarily secured funding for rural hospital and health center.
- Letter
- Aug 11, 2026
- Funding
- Funding
DTorres NY $10M
Announced nearly $10 million in state funding for cardiac catheterization lab at Lincoln Hospital.
- Aug 10, 2026
- Hearing
- Aug 6, 2026
- Bill
- Visit
- Bill
DDurbin IL $200M
Offered amendment providing $200 million annually for rural hospitals at closure risk.
- Bill
- Aug 5, 2026
- Statement
Announced USCIS confirmation that H-1B payment requirement for CNMI medical professionals is not required.
- Visit
Participated in inauguration of new integrated health services center in Isabela.
- Statement
- Aug 4, 2026
- Bill
- Bill
Introduced legislation to expand federal resources for rural hospitals through Medicare designation.
- Letter
Demanded answers from CMS on inaccurate Medicaid provider directories affecting maternal care access.
- Aug 3, 2026
- Bill
RMurkowski AK, DLuján NM, RCapito WV
Introduced bipartisan bill to expand rural health care access via telemedicine.
- Bill
Introduced bill to reauthorize Rural Communities Opioid Response Program for substance use treatment.
- Letter
Urged MaineHealth to preserve labor and delivery services at Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta.
- Bill
Summaries, action types, amounts and positions are read from each press release by AI and can be wrong. Joint releases (same day, same action, matching title or amount) count once. How it works