Cliff Bentz

As Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz reflects on a turbulent year in Washington, one marked by major wins for rural schools and hospitals, he's also bracing for a political showdown over federal health care subsidies that could raise costs for thousands of Oregonians in the year ahead.

The Republican representative for Oregon's 2nd Congressional District says one of his key votes this year was for the Big Beautiful Bill, which included $197 million for rural health care across the state. Bentz said rural hospitals must "meet the times," explaining that "they have to be able to update with appropriate artificial intelligence features."