Salinas, Colleagues Launch Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus
On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) joined her colleagues for the first meeting of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, a new legislative caucus that aims to provide a forum for Members of Congress to advocate for legislation and policy actions that increase access to quality, affordable health care and mental health services for all rural Americans.
“No one should have to travel for hours through treacherous terrain to see a doctor. But for so many in rural Oregon, this is simply reality,” said Salinas, a founding member of the caucus. “That’s why I’m proud to be a founding member of the Rural Health Care Caucus. Together, we will find ways to increase access to quality, affordable health care – including mental health care – for our rural communities.”
33% (1,405,705) of Oregon’s population lives in rural areas. According to the Oregon Office of Rural Health, Oregon’s Sixth District encompasses 20 officially designated rural communities: Amity, Aumsville, Aurora, Carlton, Dallas, Dayton, Donald, Dundee, Falls City, Gervais, Hubbard, Lafayette, McMinnville, Monmouth, Newberg, Sheridan, St. Paul, Willamina, Woodburn, and Yamhill.
“As Oregon continues to experience an unprecedented mental health and substance use crisis, it’s even more critical that we address these issues now,” Salinas continued. “I’m excited to get to work, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to unite behind this caucus and its important mission.”
The Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus is chaired by U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) and Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.). Members of the caucus include U.S. Representatives Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Sam Graves(R-Mo.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Mike Turner (R-Ohio), Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.), Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-CNMI), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Andy Barr (R-Ky.), Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), Ann Kuster (D-N.H.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Susan Wild (D-Pa.), Mark Green (R-Tenn.), Susie Lee (D-Nev.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), John Rose (R-Tenn.), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), Troy Carter (D-La.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Nikki Budzinksi (D-Ill.), Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.), Donald Davis (D-N.C.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), and James C. Moylan (R-Guam).
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