Shomari Figures (D-AL)
Rural Health Resilience Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
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
The Rural Health Resilience Act of 2026 aims to provide affordable financing to help rural health centers stay open or maintain essential services. It directs the Secretary to provide loans and loan guarantees to eligible health centers facing financial distress. To qualify, centers must be located in or serve rural communities and demonstrate financial struggles through indicators like low cash reserves or low operating margins. The bill defines various types of eligible health centers, including hospitals and community health clinics. Funds can be used for facility upgrades, operational costs, or debt payments. Finally, the Secretary must report on the program's outcomes to Congress within 18 months.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill is specifically designed to protect and maintain essential health services for people living in rural areas.
- Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill provides loans and guarantees to help rural health centers prevent closure and maintain essential medical services.
- Scored +6
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill invests in the financial stability and physical infrastructure of health facilities within rural communities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Preventing facility closures: The Secretary will provide loans and loan guarantees to help prevent rural health centers from closing or reducing essential services (Section 2(a)).
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Maintaining essential services: Loan proceeds can be used to restore the provision of essential services by a health center (Section 2(c)).
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Improving facilities and equipment: Funds can be used for projects to acquire, repair, or upgrade the systems, facilities, and equipment of the health center (Section 2(c)(1)).
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Supporting operational stability: Loans can cover operational costs such as supplies and payroll expenses to keep the center running (Section 2(c)(2)).
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Addressing financial debt: The assistance can be used for debt payments, working capital, or refinancing high-interest debt incurred for patient care operations (Section 2(c)(3)).
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Prioritizing vulnerable areas: The Secretary may prioritize assistance to providers in high poverty areas or areas with a shortage of personal health services (Section 2(b)(3)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restrictions on payroll use: While loans can cover payroll expenses, they cannot be used for bonuses (Section 2(c)(2)).
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.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill provides loans and guarantees to help rural health centers prevent closure and maintain essential medical services. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill specifically includes community mental health clinics and certified community behavioral health clinics as eligible health centers for financial assistance. Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths? — The bill includes opioid treatment programs as eligible entities for financial stabilization assistance.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill is specifically designed to protect and maintain essential health services for people living in rural areas. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill targets assistance toward health centers in high poverty areas to ensure continued access to care. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The focus on high-poverty areas may benefit African American communities disproportionately represented in those areas.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill invests in the financial stability and physical infrastructure of health facilities within rural communities.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — By prioritizing assistance to high poverty areas, the bill may help reduce healthcare disparities often affecting minority populations. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill prioritizes health centers in high poverty areas to help stabilize essential services for those populations.
- 5/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/27/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Joyce BeattyDemocrat · Ohio
Don BaconRepublican · Nebraska
Janelle BynumDemocrat · Oregon
Terri SewellDemocrat · Alabama
Bennie ThompsonDemocrat · Mississippi
Derrick Van OrdenRepublican · Wisconsin