July 2, 2025
Ms. Underwood (for herself and Mr. Mann) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
To prioritize health care facilities and mental or behavioral health facilities in the Community Facilities program for fiscal years 2026 through 2031, and allow loans and grants under the program to be used for medical supplies, increasing telehealth capabilities, supporting staffing needs, or renovating and remodeling closed facilities.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Prioritizing Rural Hospitals Act
.
Sec. 2. Improving rural health care access
(a) In general
For fiscal years 2026 through 2031, in selecting recipients of direct loans or grants for the development of essential community facilities under section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)), the Secretary of Agriculture shall give priority to entities eligible for the direct loans or grants to develop—
(1)
health care facilities; or
(2)
mental or behavioral health facilities, including certified community behavioral health clinics described in section 223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (42 U.S.C. 1396a note; Public Law 113–93).
(b) Use of funds
An eligible entity referred to in subsection (a) that receives a direct loan or grant pursuant to this section may use the direct loan or grant funds to—
(1)
provide medical supplies;
(2)
increase telehealth capabilities, including underlying health care information systems;
(3)
support staffing needs, subject to the condition that the eligible entity shall not use more than 25 percent of the direct loan or grant funds for this purpose; or
(4)
renovate or remodel closed health care facilities.
(c) Limitation on other reprioritizations
For fiscal years 2026 through 2031, the Secretary of Agriculture shall not make any national reprioritizations within the Community Facilities direct loan and grant programs under section 608 of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2204b–2).