Political Quotes

“I thank my friend and co-chair, Representative Tokuda. You know, there is not a whole lot of difference--there is as far as distance--between Hawaii and Tennessee, but we have the same health challenges in rural health to be exact. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Rural Health Day and to highlight the work and cause of the Congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, which I am proud to co-chair with my colleague, Representative Tokuda of Hawaii. Over 60 million hardworking, everyday Americans live in rural communities throughout the United States, and as my co-chair, Representative Tokuda, is fond of citing--with nearly 97 percent of our Nation being designated as rural. Compared to their counterparts living in urban and suburban areas, rural Americans experience lower life expectancy, poorer health status, and more difficulty accessing quality and affordable healthcare. Rural patients face these challenges due to the limited number of rural healthcare providers; higher rates of people being underinsured and uninsured, and long journeys to healthcare providers, sometimes people lacking transportation entirely. Having served as a community pharmacist in rural east Tennessee for over 37 years, I understand the unique healthcare challenges and obstacles faced by our patients and healthcare providers each and every day.…”