CHICAGO —The American Medical Association (AMA) presented Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., with the AMA Award for Outstanding Government Service.

Sen. Blunt’s unwavering commitment to improving rural health care has benefitted the underserved citizens of Missouri. Working with state officials, Sen. Blunt championed the opening of a rural medical school campus in St. Joseph, Mo., and helped secure the funding to make it happen. This new rural medical campus has allowed the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine to double its class size and to attract students with an interest in a career in rural primary care.

Sen. Blunt also played a pivotal role in securing funding for the NextGen Precision Health Institute and increased funding to propel the project forward.

Over the years, Sen. Blunt’s support for higher education has benefited students across the country. He authored legislation to increase maximum Pell grant awards for four consecutive years. In 2017, he reinstated Year-Round-Pell, which allows students to receive additional Pell grants during the school year to help them graduate on time and with less debt. Sen. Blunt has also increased funding for campus-aid programs by 20% and funding for first-generation college students by 22%.

“A former history teacher and college president, Sen. Blunt has never forgotten his roots in areas where health care access is challenging. He has leveraged his position on the Appropriations Committee to strengthen medical education and college grants. Although he is retiring, his contributions to rural health will long benefit the citizens of Missouri,” said AMA Board Chair Bobby Mukkamala, M.D.

Senator Blunt’s acceptance speech can be viewed at this link.