Rural Health Liaison Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2894
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL]
Introduced: 2018-05-22
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-05-22
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Rural Health Liaison Act of 2018 </b></p> <p>This bill amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish a Rural Health Liaison within the Department of Agriculture to coordinate the role of the department with respect to rural health; provide expertise, guidance, and technical assistance; and perform other specified advocacy, communications, and consulting duties. </p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2894 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. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Health Liaison Act of 2018 . 2. Rural Health Liaison (a) In general Subtitle C of title II of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 236. Rural Health Liaison (a) Authorization The Secretary shall establish in the Department the position of Rural Health Liaison. (b) Duties The Rural Health Liaison shall— (1) in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, coordinate the role of the Department with respect to rural health; (2) integrate across the Department the strategic planning and activities relating to rural health; (3) improve communication relating to rural health within the Department and between Federal agencies; (4) advocate on behalf of the health care and relevant infrastructure needs in rural areas; (5) provide to stakeholders, potential grant applicants, Federal agencies, State agencies, Indian Tribes, private organizations, and academic institutions relevant data and information, including the eligibility requirements for, and availability and outcomes of, Department programs applicable to the advancement of rural health; (6) maintain communication with public health, medical, occupational safety, and telecommunication associations, research entities, and other stakeholders to ensure that the Department is aware of current and upcoming issues relating to rural health; (7) consult on programs, pilot projects, research, training, and other affairs relating to rural health at the Department and other Federal agencies; (8) provide expertise on rural health to support the activities of the Secretary as Chair of the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity; and (9) provide technical assistance and guidance with respect to activities relating to rural health to the outreach, extension, and county offices of the Department. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 296(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 7014(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (9) The authority of the Secretary to establish in the Department the position of Rural Health Liaison under section 236. .