Government Affairs Committee
NRHA's Government Affairs Committee (GAC) develops, advises, and implements strategies to ensure that the association's rural health priorities are addressed and communicated. The GAC members works with the government affairs staff to develop and advance the association's legislative and regulatory agenda.
The responsibilities of NRHA’s Government Affairs Committee members are to:
- Provide technical expertise to staff on legislative and regulatory issues
- Educate and inform policymakers about policy and advocacy priorities as recommended by the Rural Health Policy Congress and approved by the Board of Trustees
- Make recommendations to the Rural Health Policy Congress on issues requiring their review and approval
- Ensure the Association’s guiding principles and mission are promoted through its advocacy program
Government Affairs Committee Roster
The Government Affairs Committee consists of up to thirty (30) members, including one representative from each constituency group and council, the Chair leadership across the association, and the balance consisting of at-large members. Appointments shall be made based on an individual’s technical assistance expertise, leadership abilities, interest in advocacy and policy, general willingness to participate, and the needs of the committee to achieve geographic and subject matter expertise balance. For more information, please contact advocacy@ruralhealth.us.
| GAC Chair Robert Duehmig Portland, Ore. | GAC Staff Liaison Alexa McKinley Abel Washington, D.C. | |
| GAC Representatives | ||
| Stuart Beatty Ada, Ohio | Carla Belcher Tennille, Ga. | Kelly Braun University Park, Penn. |
| Vicki Brooks Fort Worth, Texas | Sally Buck Duluth, Minn. | Elizabeth Crouch Columbia, S.C. |
| Robert Duehmig Portland, Ore. | Justin Duncan Potosi, Mo. | Hunter Eide Loves Park, Illi. |
| Carla Gibson Overland Park, Kan. | Jed Hansen Papillion, Neb. | Denae Hebert Napoleonville, Louis. |
| Carrie Henning-Smith Minneapolis, Minn. | Mark Holmes Chapel Hill, N.C. | Kathy Hsu Wibberly Charlottesville, Va. |
| David Jordan Hutchinson, Kan. | Josh Martin Elma, Wash. | Lee McCall Philadelphia, MS |
| Michelle Mills Aurora, Colo. | Laura Mispelon East Lansing, Mich. | Joni Nelson Charleston, S.C. |
| Toniann Richard Lexington, Mo. | Lori Rodefeld Sauk City, Wisc. | Sarah Scruggs Princeton, Ill. |
| Steve Smith Kansas City, Mo. | Tom Syverson Sioux Falls, S.D. | Mina Tanaka Shiprock, N.M. |
| Tim Wolters Bolivar, Mo. | ||