Improving Rural Health Care

Holding a roundtable meeting in Hermiston to discuss local efforts to combat the opioid crisis in Oregon

Working to improve health care in Oregon’s rural communities has long been a priority of mine. Before I ran for Congress, I was a member of the Hood River Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees and the Oregon Health Sciences University Foundation Board. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee now, I’ve listened to what constituents, doctors, stakeholders, hospitals, care providers, and disease and treatment advocates alike have to say about the most pressing health care issues facing our country.

My top priority at the Energy and Commerce Committee is combating the opioid epidemic in Oregon and throughout America. Under my leadership, the Energy and Commerce Committee has put forth concrete proposals to get dangerous synthetic opioids like fentanyl off our streets, improve prescription drug monitoring programs, and make sure federal resources get to those on the ground in this fight.

I’ve also worked hard to support important public health priorities for our state and country. I introduced legislation to provide the longest and most generous extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program in history, as well as a plan to provide two years of full funding and certainty for community health centers. Both pieces of legislation have been signed into law, ensuring these programs will be able to continue serving Oregonians.