Frank Pallone: “Today I rise in support of S. 4978, the State Offices of Rural Health Program Reauthorization Act of 2022. Since 1991…”

“Today I rise in support of S. 4978, the State Offices of Rural Health Program Reauthorization Act of 2022. Since 1991, the Health Resources and Services Administration's State Offices of Rural Health Program has assisted States in strengthening rural healthcare delivery systems by maintaining a central hub for rural health in each State. This bill would reauthorize the program for 5 years, through 2027. Madam Speaker, this legislation could not come at a more crucial time. Today, rural Americans face a far greater risk of death from many of the leading causes of death for adults in our country, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. In addition, unintentional injury deaths among rural populations are approximately 50 percent higher than among urban populations. These adverse effects in rural areas also translate to pediatric populations. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that children living in rural areas with mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders faced more community and family challenges than children living in urban areas with the same disorders. Adolescent suicide rate is also approximately 47 percent higher in rural areas. HRSA's State Offices of Rural Health Program has met the health needs of rural Americans head on for the last 30 years.…”