,,ii  #aaeth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #bhid  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,may #bb1      
#bjah,mr4 ,jones 7for himself1 ,mr4     
,rounds1 and ,ms4 ,smith7 introduced the
 following bill2 which was read twice   
and referred to the ,committee on       
,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry 
,a ,,bill  ,to amend the ,department of 
,agriculture ,reorganization ,act of    
#aiid to establish in the ,department of
 ,agriculture the position of ,rural    
,health ,liaison4  #a4 ,short title     
,this ,act may be cited as the ,rural   
,health ,liaison ,act of #bjah4  #b4    
,rural ,health ,liaison  7a7 ,in general
 ,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 following3  #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 
,secretary 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 relating to rural health2    
7#c7 improve communication relating 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 institutions
 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 to ensure that the         
,department is aware of current and     
upcoming issues relating to rural       
health2  7#g7 consult on programs1 pilot
 projects1 research1 training1 and other
 affairs relating 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     
relating to rural health to the         
outreach1 extension1 and county offices 
of the ,department4  4  7b7 ,conforming 
amendment ,section #bif7;b7 of the      
,department of ,agriculture             
,reorganization ,act of #aiid 7#g       
,u4,s4,c4 #gjad7;b77 is amended by      
adding at the end the following3  7#i7  
,the authority of the ,secretary to     

establish in the ,department the        
position of ,rural ,health ,liaison     
under section #bcf4  4