U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith, representing Virginia and serving as Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, led a legislative hearing focused on public health workforce maintenance, rural health care, and over-the-counter medicines. The session reviewed proposals aimed at reauthorizing public health programs and improving rural healthcare access.
Chairman Griffith emphasized the importance of these initiatives in a statement following the hearing: “Congress is determined to reauthorize vital programs that provide rural communities critical access to health care.”
He also noted his commitment to advancing policies that support telehealth services and strengthen the healthcare workforce. “As the Health Subcommittee moves forward, I will continue to dedicate my Chairmanship to advancing policies that enable access to telehealth services, bolster our health care workforce, help administer health care to rural communities, like those in Southwest Virginia, and improve health care delivery to the nation.”
Griffith’s leadership in this area follows his recent appointment as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health. His initial actions included visits to several rural healthcare providers in Southwest Virginia.
Among the legislative proposals discussed were H.R. 2493, known as the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025, which continues funding for underserved rural populations. Another proposal aims to amend the Public Health Service Act by reauthorizing telehealth network grant programs under H.R. 3419.
The expiration date for these public health programs is set for the end of Fiscal Year 2025. The bills will undergo further examination before being potentially considered by the full House.
