On the recordNovember 21, 2019
I thank the gentleman for yielding. I am honored to be joined by my colleagues today on National Rural Health Day to express the importance of rural healthcare across America. Nearly 57 million Americans, or about one out of five, call their communities rural communities, and they call these places their home. That includes many residents of my district in south Jersey. The State of New Jersey Department of Health defines a rural community as an area within the State that has a population density of fewer than 500 persons per square mile. Most of these areas tend to not only have a lack of healthcare but more need for accessible, affordable care. The populations in rural communities tend to have more households with people over 65 years of age, many of whom live alone. Additionally, they have higher rates of suicide, cancer, diabetes, asthma, and obesity. Most do not have any health insurance at all. We must act on health legislation that not only supports the development of community health centers and their accessibility but also finds creative ways to support these rural communities. Ultimately, we will save their lives. It is important that we address these life-threatening rural health concerns and foster available and accessible health services for all of these rural Americans.
