[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1874 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 527
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1874
To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing
workforce development programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 22, 2025
Mr. Merkley (for himself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mr. Coons, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Schiff, Ms.
Murkowski, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Lujan, Mrs.
Shaheen, Mr. Ossoff, and Mr. Gallego) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
July 28, 2026
Reported by Mr. Cassidy, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing
workforce development programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Title VIII Nursing
Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION GRANTS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 811 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
296j) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking
``programs.'' and inserting the following: ``programs,
including individuals enrolled in--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) authorized nurse practitioner
programs described in subsection (c);</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) authorized nurse-midwifery programs
described in subsection (d);</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) authorized nurse anesthesia programs
described in subsection (e); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(D) authorized clinical nurse specialist
programs described in subsection (f).'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in subsection (d)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in paragraph (1), by striking
``midwives'' and inserting ``nurse-midwives'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in paragraph (2), by striking
``American College of Nurse-Midwives''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in subsection (h)(1)(A), by striking ``fees''
and inserting ``fees, including costs for clinical education
and preceptors,''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. STRENGTHENING CAPACITY FOR NURSE EDUCATION AND
PRACTICE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Part D of title VIII of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296p et seq.) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in the part heading, by striking ``basic'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in section 831 (42 U.S.C. 296p)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in subsection (a)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in paragraph (1), by striking
``or'' after the semicolon;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking
``methodologies.'' and inserting
``methodologies, audiovisual or other
equipment, simulation and augmented reality
resources, telehealth technologies, and virtual
and physical laboratories; or''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) increasing the number of faculty and
students at schools of nursing in order to address nursing
workforce shortages.''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subsection (b)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in paragraph (2), by striking
``and survivors of domestic violence'' and
inserting ``survivors of domestic violence, and
survivors of sexual assault'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking
``or'' after the semicolon;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) in paragraph (4), by
striking the period and inserting ``; or'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(5) partnering with a health care facility,
nurse-managed health clinic, community health center, or other
facility that provides health care in order to provide
education opportunities for the purpose of establishing or
expanding clinical education.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 806(f)(2)(C) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296e(f)(2)(C)) is amended by
striking ``basic''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 871 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
298d) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``$137,837,000
for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting
``$184,337,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``$117,135,000
for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting
``$121,135,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through
2030''.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Title VIII Nursing Workforce
Reauthorization Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION GRANTS.
Section 811 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296j) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``programs.'' and
inserting the following: ``programs, including individuals
enrolled in--
``(A) authorized nurse practitioner programs
described in subsection (c);
``(B) authorized nurse-midwifery programs described
in subsection (d);
``(C) authorized nurse anesthesia programs
described in subsection (e); and
``(D) authorized clinical nurse specialist programs
described in subsection (f).'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``midwives'' and
inserting ``nurse-midwives''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``American
College of Nurse-Midwives''; and
(3) in subsection (h)(1)(A), by striking ``fees'' and
inserting ``fees, including costs for clinical education and
preceptors,''.
SEC. 3. STRENGTHENING CAPACITY FOR NURSE EDUCATION AND PRACTICE.
(a) In General.--Part D of title VIII of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 296p et seq.) is amended--
(1) in the part heading, by striking ``basic''; and
(2) in section 831 (42 U.S.C. 296p)--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or''
after the semicolon;
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking
``methodologies.'' and inserting
``methodologies, audiovisual or other
equipment, simulation and augmented reality
resources, telehealth technologies, and virtual
and physical laboratories; or''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) increasing the number of faculty and students at
schools of nursing in order to address nursing workforce
shortages.''; and
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and
survivors of domestic violence'' and inserting
``survivors of domestic violence, and survivors
of sexual assault'';
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or''
after the semicolon;
(iii) in paragraph (4), by striking the
period and inserting ``; or''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) partnering with a health care facility, nurse-managed
health clinic, community health center, or other facility that
provides health care in order to provide education
opportunities for the purpose of establishing or expanding
clinical education.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 806(f)(2)(C) of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296e(f)(2)(C)) is amended by striking
``basic''.
SEC. 4. NURSE FACULTY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
Section 846A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 297n-1) is
amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) In General.--To increase the number of qualified nursing
faculty, the Secretary may--
``(1) enter into an agreement with any accredited school of
nursing for the establishment and operation of a student loan
fund in accordance with subsection (b); and
``(2) award nurse faculty grants in accordance with
subsection (c).'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D)
of paragraph (2) as clauses (i) through (iv),
respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as
subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and
adjusting the margins accordingly;
(C) in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, by
striking ``subsection (c)'' and inserting ``paragraph
(2)''; and
(D) by striking ``(b) Agreements--Each agreement
entered into under subsection (a) shall--'' and
inserting the following:
``(b) School of Nursing Student Loan Fund.--
``(1) In general.--Each agreement entered into under
subsection (a)(1) shall--'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``subsection (a)'' each place it
appears and inserting ``subsection (a)(1)'';
(B) in paragraph (3), by redesignating
subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii),
respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;
(C) in paragraph (6), by redesignating
subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii),
respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (6) as
subparagraphs (A) through (F), respectively, and
adjusting the margins accordingly; and
(E) in subparagraph (F)(ii), as so redesignated, by
striking ``subsection (e)'' and inserting ``paragraph
(4)'';
(4) in subsection (e), by striking ``subsection (c)(6)(B)''
and inserting ``paragraph (2)(F)(ii)'';
(5) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as
paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively, and adjusting the
margins accordingly; and
(6) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Nurse Faculty Demonstration Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and carry
out a demonstration program described in subsection (a)(2)
under which eligible schools of nursing receive a grant for
purposes of supplementing the salaries of eligible nursing
faculty members to enhance recruitment and retention of nursing
faculty members.
``(2) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this subsection, an entity shall--
``(A) be an accredited school of nursing; and
``(B) submit an application to the Secretary, at
such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, including--
``(i)(I) to the extent such information is
available to the school of nursing, the salary
history of nursing faculty at such school who
previously were nurses in clinical practice,
for the most recent 3-year period ending on the
date of application, adjusted for inflation as
appropriate and broken down by credentials,
experience, and levels of education of such
nurses; or
``(II) if the information described in
subclause (I) is not available, information on
the average local salary of nurses in clinical
practice, adjusted for inflation as appropriate
and broken down by credentials, experience, and
levels of education of the individual nurses,
in accordance with such requirements as the
Secretary may specify;
``(ii) an attestation of the average
nursing faculty salary at the school of nursing
during the most recent 3-year period prior to
the date of application, adjusted for
inflation, as appropriate, broken down by
credentials, experience, and levels of
education of such faculty members;
``(iii) the number of nursing faculty
member vacancies at the entity at the time of
application, and the entity's projection of
such vacancies over the ensuing 5-year period;
and
``(iv) a description of the entity's plans
to identify funding sources to sustainably
continue, after the 3-year grant period, the
salary available to the eligible nursing
faculty member pursuant to the program under
this subsection during such grant program and
to retain eligible nursing faculty members
after the end of the grant period.
``(3) Awards.--A grant awarded under this subsection, with
respect to supporting eligible nursing faculty members, shall--
``(A) be awarded to the school of nursing to
supplement the salaries of eligible faculty members at
the school of nursing, annually, for up to a 3-year
period, in an amount equal to, for each eligible
nursing faculty member at the eligible entity during
the grant period, the difference between--
``(i) the average salary of nurses in
clinical practice, as submitted under subclause
(I) or (II) of paragraph (2)(B)(i); and
``(ii) the greater of--
``(I) the salary for the eligible
nursing faculty member at the school of
nursing; or
``(II) the average nursing faculty
salary, as submitted under paragraph
(2)(B)(ii) for faculty members with the
same or similar credentials and level
of education;
``(B) notwithstanding section 803(a), be used in
its entirety to supplement the eligible faculty
member's salary; and
``(C) be conditioned upon the school of nursing
maintaining, for each year in which the award is made
as described in subparagraph (A), a salary for such
faculty member at a level that is not less than the
greater of the amount under subclause (I) or (II) of
subparagraph (A)(ii).
``(4) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subsection,
the Secretary shall--
``(A) ensure the equitable geographic distribution
of awards;
``(B) give priority to applications from schools of
nursing that demonstrate--
``(i) the greatest need for such grant,
which may be based upon the financial
circumstances of the school of nursing, the
number of eligible nurse faculty members, the
planned number of students to be trained or
admitted off a wait list; or
``(ii) training or partnerships to serve
vulnerable patient populations, such as through
the location or activity of a school in a
health professional shortage area (as defined
in section 332); and
``(C) ensure that not less than 20 percent of the
total amount awarded is awarded to eligible entities
located in States with populations under 1,500,000.
``(5) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection
precludes a school of nursing or an eligible nursing faculty
member receiving an award under this section from obtaining or
receiving any other form of Federal support or funding.
``(6) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and
Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives, a report that evaluates the program
established under this subsection, including--
``(A) the impact of such program on recruitment and
retention rates of nursing faculty, as available, and
specifically for each faculty member participating in
the program; and
``(B) recommendations and considerations for
Congress on continuing the program under this
subsection.
``(7) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Eligible nursing faculty member.--The term
`eligible nursing faculty member' means a nursing
faculty member who--
``(i) was hired by a school of nursing
within the 2-year period preceding the
submission of an application under paragraph
(2), or a prospective nursing faculty member;
``(ii) is currently employed at the school
of nursing and who demonstrates the need for
such support;
``(iii) previously worked as a nurse in
clinical practice or as a nurse faculty member
at another school of nursing; or
``(iv) may work on a part-time basis as a
nursing faculty member, for whom such award
amounts described in paragraph (3) shall be
prorated relative to the amount of time
participating in part-time teaching.
``(B) Inflation.--The term `inflation' means the
Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (all
items; U.S. city average).
``(8) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000
for the period of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
``(9) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary to award
grants under this section shall terminate on September 30,
2031. Any grant awarded before such date shall continue in
accordance with the terms of the grant, but no grant may be
awarded under this subsection after such date.''.
SEC. 5. STATE AND REGIONAL NURSING WORKFORCE CENTER DATA COLLECTION
PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 296 et seq.) is amended by striking ``part g--public service
announcements'' and inserting the following:
``PART G--NURSING WORKFORCE CENTERS
``SEC. 861. STATE AND REGIONAL NURSING WORKFORCE CENTER DATA COLLECTION
PILOT PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may carry out a 3-year pilot
program under which the Secretary awards grants, or enters into
contracts with, eligible entities to establish new or enhance existing
State- and regional based nursing workforce centers, evaluate the
impact of State-and regional based nursing workforce centers on
outcomes, and assess the feasibility of nursing workforce public-
private partnerships. The Secretary shall begin implementation of such
pilot program not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the
Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2026.
``(b) Award Terms.--
``(1) Term.--The term of a grant or contract awarded under
the pilot program under subsection (a) shall be 3 years.
``(2) Matching requirement.--As a condition on receipt of a
grant or contract under the pilot program under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall require the applicant to agree, with
respect to costs to be incurred by the applicant in carrying
out the activities funded through the grant or contract, to
make available non-Federal contributions (in cash or in kind)
toward such costs in an amount that is equal to not less than
$1 for each $4 of Federal funds provided through the grant or
contract. Such contributions may be made directly or through
donations from public or private entities.
``(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant or contract
under this section, an entity shall be--
``(1) a State agency;
``(2) a State board of nursing;
``(3) a nonprofit; or
``(4) a school of nursing.
``(d) Equitable Distribution.--In awarding grants or contracts
under this section, the Secretary shall ensure, to the greatest extent
possible, that such grants and contracts are equitably distributed
among the geographical regions of the United States.
``(e) Priority.--In selecting the eligible entity to be awarded a
grant or contract under this section for a nursing workforce center in
a particular State, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible
entities that--
``(1) propose to provide statewide services;
``(2) have expertise in the State's nursing workforce
issues;
``(3) have a history of convening entities to address
nursing workforce issues; and
``(4) have partnerships with entities that traditionally
educate or employ the State's nurses.
``(f) Use of Funds.--A recipient of a grant or contract under this
section may use such award for purposes of--
``(1) collecting, analyzing, and reporting data regarding
nursing workforce training programs under this Act to the
National Center for Health Workforce Analysis and to the
public; and
``(2) providing technical assistance to local and regional
entities on the collection, analysis, and reporting of data and
making recommendations to improve nursing workforce capacity.
``(g) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which the
first grant or contract is awarded under the pilot program under
subsection (a), and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report on the grants and contracts awarded under such pilot
program during the year covered by the report. Each such report shall
include--
``(1) a description of initiatives to study the unique
characteristics of State nursing workforces, and efforts to
increase the number of new nurses, recruit nurses to the
nursing profession, and retain nurses in the workplace;
``(2) impact data on nurses served by nursing workforce
centers, including demographic information of the individuals
served, the number of such individuals, and the types of
services provided;
``(3) the effectiveness of establishing formal public-
private relationships for purposes of understanding the
national nursing workforce through improved data collection and
standardization;
``(4) data on continuous evaluation and quality
improvement, and other relevant data as determined by the
Secretary; and
``(5) the Secretary's recommendations and best practices
for--
``(A) reducing shortages among different nursing
specialties;
``(B) reducing shortages in rural and underserved
areas;
``(C) improving geographical distribution of the
nursing workforce; and
``(D) reducing shortages among different types of
nursing employers.
``(h) Data Collection.--The recipient of a grant or contract under
this section shall provide the Secretary with such information
(including data and assurances), at such time, and in such manner as
the Secretary may require in order to prepare the report under
subsection (g).
``(i) Funding.--
``(1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated to carry
out this title, the Secretary may use up to $1,500,000 for each
of fiscal years 2027 through 2029 for purposes of carrying out
this section.
``(2) Limitation.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply for a
fiscal year unless the amount made available to carry out parts
B, C, and D for such fiscal year exceeds the amount
appropriated to carry out such parts for fiscal year 2026.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 871(a) of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 298d(a)) is amended by striking ``and D''
and inserting ``D, and G''.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 871 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 298d), as
amended by section 5(b), is further amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``$137,837,000 for each
of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting
``$184,337,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031'';
and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``$117,135,000 for each
of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting
``$121,135,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031''.
Calendar No. 527
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1874
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing
workforce development programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 28, 2026
Reported with an amendment