S. 403: Rural Health Focus Act
A Senate bill (S.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | Senate bill (S.) |
| Originating chamber | Senate |
| Introduced | 2025-02-05 |
| Sponsor | Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS] |
| Policy area | Health |
| Cosponsors | 3 |
| Latest action | 2025-02-05 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. |
| Last updated | 2026-01-14 |
Summary
Official summary (Introduced in Senate, 2025-02-05):
Rural Health Focus Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the Office of Rural Health (ORH) within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC established the ORH in 2023 in response to a congressional directive, and it currently leads the CDC’s rural public health strategy.
Specifically, the bill requires the CDC to establish the ORH and select a director to head the ORH. The bill specifies the duties and authorities of the ORH director, including improving understanding of particular challenges and implementing programs to improve health care for rural populations.
Cosponsors (3)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Jeff Merkley | D OR (original cosponsor) 2025-02-05 |
| Jon Ossoff | D GA 2025-03-13 |
| Shelley Moore Capito | R WV 2025-07-15 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for S. 403 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
Frequently asked questions
What is S. 403?
S. 403 is a Senate bill (S.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the Senate. Official title: Rural Health Focus Act.
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for S. 403 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).