A joint resolution to designate the period commencing on May 15, 1988, and ending on May 21, 1988, as "National Rural Health Awareness Week".
PL 100-320 (S.J.Res.254), enacted 05/19/1988

PUBLIC LAW 100-320—MAY 19, 1988 
102 STAT. 483 
Public Law 100-320 
100th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
To designate the period commencing on May 15, 1988, and ending on May 21, 1988, 
May 19, 1988 
as "National Rural Health Awareness Week". 
[S.J. Res. 254] 
Whereas the health of a nation depends on the health of its people; 
Whereas one quarter of the population of the United States lives in 
rural communities; 
Whereas one third of the Nation's elderly live in rural communities; 
Whereas rural communities have disproportionately fewer health 
care providers compared to the urban population, with rural 
communities holding 12 percent of the Nation's doctors, 18 per-
cent of the Nation's nurses, and 14 percent of the Nation's 
pharmacies; 
Whereas rural areas face an acute and growing nursing shortage, 
with 50 percent of rural hospitals and long-term care facilities 
reporting difficulty in recruiting and retaining nurses; 
Whereas rural areas are increasingly impacted by a lack of access to 
obstetric care; 
Whereas the decline of the rural economy in recent years has 
reduced economic resources available to rural communities, lead-
ing to increased closures of hospitals and other health care facili-
ties in rural areas, the loss or curtailing of services by local health 
departments, and disruption of social service programs; 
Whereas the decline in availability of health care services in rural 
areas has, in turn, incre£ised the shortage of physicians, nurses, 
psychologists, and other allied health professionals; 
Whereas rural communities have few transportation services, 
preventing rural residents from obtaining needed health care; 
Whereas the health status of rural Americans is lower than for 
residents of urban areas, with rural residents having higher 
infant and maternal mortality rates, higher rates of chronic 
illness, and higher rates of injury; 
Whereas there are more poor and medically indigent in rural areas 
than in urban areas; 
Whereas rural hospitals serve a higher than average number of 
elderly patients, resulting in a high proportion of Medicare pay-
ment £is a percentage of their total revenue; and 
Wheresis current policies result in substantially lower Medicare 
payments to rural health care providers for equivalent services, 
further increasing the likelihood of financial failure and closure of 
these facilities: Now, therefore, be it 
102 STAT. 484 
PUBLIC LAW 100-320—MAY 19, 1988 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the period commenc-
ing on May 15, 1988, and ending on May 21, 1988, is designated as 
"National Rural Health Awareness Week", and the President is 
authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the 
people of the United States to observe the above period with appro-
priate programs, ceremonies, and activities. 
Approved May 19, 1988. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 254: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 134 (1988): 
Feb. 26, considered and passed Senate. 
May 11, considered and passed House.