,i  #aaeth ,,congress  #b;d ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #dide  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,february #f1        
#bjah,mrs4 ,bustos 7for herself and ,mr4
 ,la,malfa7 introduced the following    
bill2 which was referred to the         
,committee on ,agriculture  ,a ,,bill   
,to amend the ,department of            
,agriculture ,reorganization ,act of    
#aiid to establish a ,rural ,health     
,liaison4  #a4 ,short title ,this ,act  
may be cited as the ,rural ,health      
,liaison ,act of #bjah4  #b4 ,rural     
,health ,liaison ,subtitle ,c of title  
,,ii of the ,department of ,agriculture 
,reorganization ,act of #aiid 7#g       
,u4,s4,c4 #fida et seq47 is amended by  
adding at the end the following new     
section3  #bcf4 ,rural ,health ,liaison 
7a7 ,authorization ,the ,secretary shall
 establish in the ,department the       
position of ,rural ,health ,liaison4    
7b7 ,duties ,the ,rural ,health ,liaison
 shall--  7#a7 in consultation with the 
,department of ,health and ,human       

,services1 coordinate the role of the   
,department with respect to rural       
health2  7#b7 integrate across the      
,department the strategic planning and  
activities related to rural health2     
7#c7 improve communication related to   
rural health within the ,department and 
between ,federal agencies2  7#d7        
advocate on behalf of the health care   
and relevant infrastructure needs in    
rural areas2  7#e7 provide to           
stakeholders1 potential grant           
applicants1 ,federal agencies1 ,state   
agencies1 ,indian ,tribes1 private      
organizations1 and academic             
institutions1 relevant data and         
information1 including the eligibility  
requirements for1 and availability and  
outcomes of1 ,department programs       
applicable to the advancement of rural  
health2  7#f7 maintain communication    
with public health1 medical1            
occupational safety1 and                
telecommunication associations1 research
 entities1 and other stakeholders in    

order to ensure the ,department is aware
 of current and upcoming issues related 
to rural health2  7#g7 consult on       
programs1 pilot projects1 research1     
training and other affairs related to   
rural health at the ,department and     
other ,federal agencies2  7#h7 provide  
expertise on rural health to support the
 activities of the ,secretary as ,chair 
of the ,interagency ,task ,force on     
,agriculture and ,rural ,prosperity2 and
  7#i7 provide technical assistance and 
guidance with respect to activities     
related to rural health to the outreach1
 extension1 and county offices of the   
,department4  4