Jill Tokuda: “To continue now my long to-do list for Congress that needs to get done by the end of the year for our rural and remote…”

“To continue now my long to-do list for Congress that needs to get done by the end of the year for our rural and remote Americans to make sure that they have the healthcare that they need, number three, we need to fund the government for fiscal year 2025. The House and Senate appropriation bills contain roughly $730 million for grant programs and initiatives that directly address the growing healthcare crisis in rural America. Rural health discretionary spending is vitally important for preserving and improving access to care for individuals living in rural America. This funding includes resources to support rural hospitals, cybersecurity, including funding to help small, rural hospitals purchase health IT and equipment and address the growing threats on digital patient records. We read about this every single day in the newspaper. They need the support to be able to safely maintain both their health records and take care of their patients. This funding also includes funding for community health interventions, including to address the various crises facing rural America in maternal health, as we have just heard from our colleague, opioid abuse, and mental health. That is why I will keep fighting to ensure we pass a final spending bill that preserves increased funding for rural healthcare programs. Lastly, number four, Congress needs to pass a disaster aid package.…”