[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2302 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2302

    To improve access to physicians in medically underserved areas.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 7, 2004

  Mr. Conrad (for himself and Mr. Brownback) introduced the following 
    bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To improve access to physicians in medically underserved areas.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. WAIVER OF FOREIGN COUNTRY RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT WITH RESPECT 
              TO INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES.

    (a) Extension of Deadline.--Section 220(c) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note) (as 
amended by section 11018 of Public Law 107-273) is amended by striking 
``2004.'' and inserting ``2009.''.
    (b) Designation of Health Professional Shortage Areas by State 
Agencies.--Section 214(l)(1)(D) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1184(l)(1)(D)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``professionals,'' and inserting 
        ``professionals or in other shortage locations specified by a 
        State department of public health (or its equivalent),''; and
            (2) by striking ``in a geographic area designated by the 
        Secretary.'' and inserting ``in such a geographic area or other 
        shortage location.''.
    (c) Exemption From H-1B Numerical Limitations.--Section 
214(l)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1184(l)(2)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``The 
numerical limitations contained in subsection (g)(1)(A) shall not apply 
to any alien whose status is changed under the preceding sentence, if 
the alien obtained a waiver of the 2-year foreign residence requirement 
upon a request by an interested State agency.''.
                                 <all>