1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Telehealth and Education for Rural Communities Act of 2023 . 2. Distance learning and telemedicine grant program (a) Use of grants for operating expenses Section 2333 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa–2 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting and operation after construction ; (2) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1)(B), by adding and at the end; and (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking or extend each place it appears and inserting extend, or operate ; (3) in subsection (f)— (A) in paragraph (3), by striking or at the end; (B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) operation of the programming, equipment, or facilities referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2); or ; and (4) by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following: (g) Operating expenses Not more than 15 percent of the amount of financial assistance provided to a recipient under this chapter may be used for recurring or operating expenses, including salaries or administrative expenses, that are reasonable and allocable to the project carried out by the recipient. . (b) Waiver of matching requirement Section 2334 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa–3 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (g) Waiver of matching requirement The Secretary shall waive any requirement for a recipient of financial assistance under this chapter to provide non-Federal matching funds— (1) in a case of demonstrated need or if the matching requirement would create a substantial burden, as determined by the Secretary