Michael Guest (R-MS)
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an Office of Rural Health, and for other purposes.
A Republican bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create an Office of Rural Health within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The office will be led by a director chosen by the Director of the CDC. Its main goals are to serve as a point of contact for rural health and to promote research on public health issues affecting rural populations. The office will also work to improve care and services, including telehealth, for people in rural areas. Additionally, it will manage grants and contracts to support rural health improvements. The office is required to coordinate with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to avoid duplicating work.
Yes· 3 of 23
- Scored +10
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The entire bill is dedicated to improving health and health services for rural residents.
- Scored +7
Would farmers be better off under this?
Directly targets health improvements for the rural populations where farmers reside.
- Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
Establishes a dedicated office to improve care, services, and telehealth specifically for rural populations.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Care and Services: The office will develop policies, best practices, and programs, including telehealth, to improve care for rural populations (Section 1(b)(3)).
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Better Health Outcomes: The office will support educational outreach and evidence-based interventions to prevent death, disease, injury, and disability while promoting healthy behaviors in rural areas (Section 1(b)(4)).
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Increased Funding and Support: The office is authorized to award and administer grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for technical assistance to improve health care in rural areas (Section 1(b)(7)).
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Addressing Health Gaps: The bill directs the office to identify disparities in public health interventions and health care availability for rural populations (Section 1(b)(6)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The entire bill is dedicated to improving health and health services for rural residents. Would farmers be better off under this? — Directly targets health improvements for the rural populations where farmers reside. Would retired people be better off under this? — Retirees in rural areas benefit from expanded healthcare access and telehealth. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors in rural areas benefit significantly from increased telehealth and improved health services. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increases accessibility to healthcare through targeted rural interventions and grants. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — High likelihood of positive impact due to the prevalence of Native American populations in rural areas. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Telehealth and improved rural services significantly aid those with mobility challenges. Would children be better off under this? — Improves general health outcomes and access to care in rural areas for all ages. Would men be better off under this? — Improves general healthcare access in rural areas. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Improves health outcomes and access to care in rural areas. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Improves general healthcare availability in rural regions. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Rural veterans may benefit from improved healthcare access and telehealth. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Improves health services for rural populations generally. Would women be better off under this? — Improves general healthcare access in rural areas. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Improves health outcomes and access to care in rural areas. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — May help reduce disparities in rural healthcare access for minority populations. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — May help reduce disparities in rural healthcare access for minority populations.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Establishes a dedicated office to improve care, services, and telehealth specifically for rural populations. Does this put more money into medical research? — Promotes and coordinates research regarding public health issues affecting rural populations.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — Authorizes grants and contracts for rural public health research. Does this get reliable internet to more people? — Promotes telehealth which relies on and encourages better internet connectivity in rural areas.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Focuses on improving health infrastructure and services specifically within rural areas.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Creates a new federal office within the CDC to manage rural health policy.
- 2/11/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/30/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Sanford BishopDemocrat · Georgia
Marie PerezDemocrat · Washington
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia