Urge Congress to Invest in Rural Communities in Farm Bill

Congress is gearing up to pass a Farm Bill, which is the legislative package that governs agricultural, food, and other programs at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Typically, Congress renews the Farm Bill every 5 years. The last Farm Bill was passed in 2018, meaning that the package has been up for reauthorization in 2023.

On March 3, 2026, the House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. All programs in the legislation are to be reauthorized through fiscal year 2031. The Senate Agriculture Committee has not released its version of the Farm Bill yet. Once this happens, there will likely be differences between the House and Senate versions that must be worked out before Congress passes the final package.

NRHA sent a letter of support to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees in support of H.R. 7567. NRHA views the next Farm Bill as an opportunity to improve health care access for agricultural workers and their families, build rural economic and community development, and enhance the overall quality of life in rural communities.

Key provisions in the legislation include:

Language based on H.R. 1417, the Rural Health Care Facility Technical Assistance (TA) Program Act, which codifies and strengthens the existing hospital TA program with the intention to continue fulfilling its current responsibilities focusing on preventing closures, strengthening essential health services, and improving the financial and operational sustainability of rural health care facilities.
The ReConnect Program is integrated into the Farm Bill Broadband Program, now renamed the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program.
The Community Connect Grant Program is reauthorized at $50 million per year based on H.R. 6070.
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program is reauthorized at $82 million per year. This provision is based on language in NRHA-endorsed H.R. 290, the Rural Telehealth and Education Enhancement Act, and provides grants to eligible entities for the construction of broadband facilities and equipment related to telepresence activities.
The Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program, which is reauthorized at $10 million per year for five years. This program offers flexible grant funding for rural areas to maximize job opportunities and support private investment in regional economies. H.R. 291, Creating Access to Rural Employment and Education for Resilience and Success Act, would reauthorize the program.
The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) is reauthorized with new improvements pulled from H.R. 4400, the Farmers First Act. This provision also includes elements of H.R. 5246, the National Agricultural Crisis Hotline Act (118th Congress), and allows FRSAN grants to be used to fund crisis hotlines for individuals in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related jobs.
The Rural Health Liaison is ordered to coordinate with USDA in implementing FRSAN and submit a report to the Agriculture Committee on activities in this area.

Please find a section-by-section summary here. NRHA’s Farm Bill priorities can be found here. If you have any questions, contact Alexa McKinley Abel (amckinley@ruralhealth.us).

We encourage you to advocate on behalf of these requests by using the pre-drafted text in the campaign. As always, feel free to add your voice to the pre-drafted text to ensure your elected officials understand the unique needs of your community!   