Memorandum
Date: November 3, 2026
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Brad Rasmussen, Chair, District 4 Supervisor
Jessica Pyska, Vice Chair, District 5 Supervisor
Subject: Consideration of a Letter of Support for the Bipartisan Revitalize Rural America Act (RRAA) of 2026
Executive Summary:
As your Board is aware, the bipartisan Revitalize Rural America Act, as introduced, proposes a comprehensive agenda to strengthen the rural communities that keep America running. This Legislation is Sponsored by Congressmen Mike Thompson and James Gallagher, and aims to jumpstart rural economies in Northern California and across our nation.
H. R. 10508, seeks to strengthen rural communities like Lake County by keeping hospitals open, expanding access to doctors and telehealth, and helping small towns secure federal resources. The bill makes key telehealth flexibilities permanent, supports the recruitment of essential workers to underserved areas, creates a refundable payroll tax credit for rural hospitals, and provides technical assistance to help rural communities compete for federal grants.
Additionally, the legislation also would support rural workers, farmers, and local economies by reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, improving coordination across federal rural development programs, and providing tax relief for the sale of qualifying agricultural property.
A further key provision of HR 10508 is its proposed expansion of federal support for home hardening and disaster mitigation. If enacted, these provisions would provide valuable supports to County residents facing affordability and other challenges that threatening their ability to remain in their homes; too many Lake County residents are being priced out due to high costs of home insurance and increasingly mandated disaster mitigation measures, such as California’s “Zone Zero” requirements.
We, therefore, recommend our Board approve the Letter of Support, and Authorize the Chair ...
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