Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senator Katie Britt Secures Funding for Crenshaw Community Hospital

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 8, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, secured $18,000 for Crenshaw Community Hospital for necessary medical equipment in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

“Health care is critical for the wellbeing of communities across the state of Alabama, and modernized equipment is key to providing the best care for patients. As a daughter of rural Alabama, I understand that every community has unique needs, which is why I worked to secure needed funding for Crenshaw Community Hospital,” said Senator Britt. “When I took office, I promised to return your hard-earned taxpayer dollars to Alabama. These funds are returning home to our great state in a commonsense way, investing in medical services for Alabamians.”

The FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

Background:

Senator Britt has made health care, including rural and maternal care, a top legislative priority during her first 19 months in office. She joined Senator Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) in introducing the NIH IMPROVE Act. Their bipartisan legislation would provide consistent support and resources for the NIH to conduct important research into the causes of America’s maternal mortality crisis and to improve health care and outcomes for women before, during, and after pregnancy.

Additionally, Senator Britt joined Senators Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in introducing the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act. This bipartisan legislation would expand access to maternal care by offering support for rural health care facilities and doctors to provide urgent obstetric care. This is especially important for Alabama as 55 of the state’s 67 counties are considered rural.

Senator Britt also reintroduced the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in September 2023. This bipartisan legislation would eliminate copays and other out-of-pocket expenses for breast cancer diagnostic tests, making them more accessible and affordable.

Last December, Senator Britt joined a bipartisan group of 59 of her Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2023. This bill would expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare; make permanent COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities; improve health outcomes; and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors—especially important in rural areas.

Additionally, she cosponsored two pieces of bipartisan legislation to help all Alabamians access insulin: The Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023 would cap the price of insulin at $35 for a 30-day supply; while The Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act of 2023 aims to comprehensively address rising insulin costs by removing barriers to care.

Senator Britt also introduced The Youth Mental Health Research Act with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) aiming at creating a national Youth Mental Health Research Initiative focused on guiding long-term mental health efforts targeting preventive interventions at-risk youth populations face while improving treatments available.

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