Strengthening Telehealth and Education for Rural Communities Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2447
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2023-07-20
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Latest action: action_date: 2023-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-07-20
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Strengthening Telehealth and Education for Rural Communities Act of 2023</strong></p><p>This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and modifies the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program that is administered by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program supports telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas through telecommunications, computer networks, and other advanced technology by students, teachers, medical professionals, and residents of rural areas.</p><p>The bill expands the scope of the program to specifically allow the use of program funds for operational expenses associated with telemedicine programs. It also allows the USDA to waive matching fund requirements in certain circumstances and requires USDA to set aside a specific amount of funding allotments for programs that focus on substance use disorder treatment or mental health services.</p><!--tinycomments|2.1|data:application/json;base64,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-->

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2447 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 20, 2023 Ms. Rosen (for herself and Ms. Lummis ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To reauthorize the distance learning and telemedicine grant program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Telehealth and Education for Rural Communities Act of 2023 . 2. Distance learning and telemedicine grant program (a) Use of grants for operating expenses Section 2333 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa–2 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting and operation after construction ; (2) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1)(B), by adding and at the end; and (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking or extend each place it appears and inserting extend, or operate ; (3) in subsection (f)— (A) in paragraph (3), by striking or at the end; (B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) operation of the programming, equipment, or facilities referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2); or ; and (4) by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following: (g) Operating expenses Not more than 15 percent of the amount of financial assistance provided to a recipient under this chapter may be used for recurring or operating expenses, including salaries or administrative expenses, that are reasonable and allocable to the project carried out by the recipient. . (b) Waiver of matching requirement Section 2334 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa–3 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (g) Waiver of matching requirement The Secretary shall waive any requirement for a recipient of financial assistance under this chapter to provide non-Federal matching funds— (1) in a case of demonstrated need or if the matching requirement would create a substantial burden, as determined by the Secretary; or (2) if the recipient is a federally recognized Indian Tribe. . (c) Authorization of appropriations Section 2335A of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa–5 ) is amended by striking 2019 through 2023 and inserting 2024 through 2028 . (d) Set-Aside for substance use disorder treatment and mental health services (1) In general (A) Substance use disorder set-aside Subject to subparagraph (B), for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028, the Secretary of Agriculture shall make available not less than 20 percent of amounts made available under section 2335A of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa–5 ) for financial assistance under chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XXIII of that Act ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq. ) for telemedicine projects that provide substance use disorder treatment services or mental health services. (B) Exception In the case of a fiscal year for which the Secretary of Agriculture determines that there are not sufficient qualified applicants to receive financial assistance for projects providing substance use disorder treatment services or mental health services to reach the 20-percent requirement under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Agriculture may make available less than 20 percent of amounts made available under section 2335A of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa–5 ) for those services. (2) Conforming amendments Section 6101(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–334 ; 132 Stat. 4726) is amended— (A) by inserting for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, before the Secretary ; and (B) by striking ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa–2 ) and inserting ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa–5 ) .