WHEREAS, rural health refers to the health of people living in remote areas with low population density who are generally located farther from health care facilities and other services than people living in urban areas; and

WHEREAS, of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s 133 counties and independent cities, 73, or 57 percent, are rural according to the Health Resources and Services Administration; and

WHEREAS, nearly 1.1 million people, or 12.4 percent of the population, and 88 percent of the Commonwealth’s land area are considered rural; and

WHEREAS, rural communities in Virginia are a great place to live, work, and raise a family, full of resourcefulness, innovation, collaboration, and creative solutions to address local challenges; and

WHEREAS, rural communities often face accessibility issues, health care provider shortages, transportation barriers, an aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions, and larger percentages of uninsured and underinsured citizens; and

WHEREAS, rural America is a great place for dedicated health professionals to deliver essential health services and provide comprehensive, individualized care; and

WHEREAS, Public Law No. 119-21, known as H.R. 1 and informally as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," establishes the Rural Health Transformation Program and authorizes up to $50 billion in federal investment in rural health between Fiscal Years 2026 and 2030; and

WHEREAS, Virginia has applied for up to $1 billion in federal funding through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Rural Health Transformation Program to support rural health care innovation and access across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Executive Directive 12 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, in coordination with the Secretary of Finance, to develop a Rural Health Transformation Plan in collaboration with state and local agencies and health care providers; and

WHEREAS, the Plan will support healthy lifestyle changes, technology solutions, workforce development, and new care models to improve rural health outcomes across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, National Rural Health Day, founded by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health and celebrated annually on the third Thursday of November, serves as a reminder of the unique needs and opportunities that rural communities face in accessing quality health care services;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize November 20, 2025, as RURAL HEALTH DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.