Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa). {time} 1600 Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend from Hawaii for yielding. I would chime in as well on the importance of improving and expanding rural health and the challenges faced in the most rural areas of our country, including my own northern California district. We have several high country hospitals that are out on their own pretty much. The connectivity that they need and the challenges that pertain to some levels of equality on reimbursements is extremely important, so I would be happy to join with Representative Tokuda's efforts and that of the Rural Healthcare Caucus. Indeed, as we expand and get more and more telehealth opportunities, something that has worked pretty well for us in our district is teaching health centers; getting young folks as students, and maybe young doctors, interested in working in our communities here, as well. It just helps extend the opportunities for people that do live in these rural areas and don't have nearly the choices. That is part of the cost, I guess, of living in a rural area. We have done a lot of good work with the USDA, expanding fiber optic, getting more and more connectivity. We need to keep doing that in order to be more successful for rural America. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this effort, and a bipartisan effort it is.”