II 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2894 

To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to 

establish in the Department of Agriculture the position of Rural Health 

Liaison. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 22, 2018 

Mr. JONES (for himself, Mr. ROUNDS, and Ms. SMITH) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 

A BILL 

To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization 

Act of 1994 to establish in the Department of Agriculture the position of Rural Health Liaison. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rural Health Liaison 

5 Act of 2018’’. 

6 SEC. 2. RURAL HEALTH LIAISON. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle C of title II of the De8 partment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 


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•S 2894 IS

1 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 

2 the following: 

3 ‘‘SEC. 236. RURAL HEALTH LIAISON. 

4 ‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary shall establish 

5 in the Department the position of Rural Health Liaison. 

6 ‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Rural Health Liaison shall— 

7 ‘‘(1) in consultation with the Secretary of 

8 Health and Human Services, coordinate the role of 

9 the Department with respect to rural health; 

10 ‘‘(2) integrate across the Department the stra11 tegic planning and activities relating to rural health; 

12 ‘‘(3) improve communication relating to rural 

13 health within the Department and between Federal 

14 agencies; 

15 ‘‘(4) advocate on behalf of the health care and 

16 relevant infrastructure needs in rural areas; 

17 ‘‘(5) provide to stakeholders, potential grant ap18 plicants, Federal agencies, State agencies, Indian 

19 Tribes, private organizations, and academic institu20 tions relevant data and information, including the 

21 eligibility requirements for, and availability and out22 comes of, Department programs applicable to the 

23 advancement of rural health; 

24 ‘‘(6) maintain communication with public 

25 health, medical, occupational safety, and teleVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:57 Jun 01, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2894.IS S2894

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1 communication associations, research entities, and 

2 other stakeholders to ensure that the Department is 

3 aware of current and upcoming issues relating to 

4 rural health; 

5 ‘‘(7) consult on programs, pilot projects, re6 search, training, and other affairs relating to rural 

7 health at the Department and other Federal agen8 cies; 

9 ‘‘(8) provide expertise on rural health to sup10 port the activities of the Secretary as Chair of the 

11 Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural 

12 Prosperity; and 

13 ‘‘(9) provide technical assistance and guidance 

14 with respect to activities relating to rural health to 

15 the outreach, extension, and county offices of the 

16 Department.’’. 

17 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 296(b) of 

18 the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 

19 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by adding at the end 

20 the following: 

21 ‘‘(9) The authority of the Secretary to establish 

22 in the Department the position of Rural Health Li23 aison under section 236.’’. 

Æ 


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