[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4110 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 529
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4110
To revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the
Public Health Service Act.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 17, 2026
Mr. Reed (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) 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 revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the
Public Health Service Act.
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 ``Educating Medical
Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness for
Health Act'' or the ``EMPOWER for Health Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS WORKFORCE
PROGRAMS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292
et seq.) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in section 736(i) (42 U.S.C. 293(i)), by
striking ``$23,711,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2025'' and inserting ``$28,422,000 for each of fiscal years
2026 through 2030'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in section 740 (42 U.S.C. 293d)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in subsection (a), by striking
``$51,470,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2025'' and inserting ``$55,014,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subsection (b), by striking
``appropriated, $1,190,000 for each of fiscal years
2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``appropriated
$2,310,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through
2030'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) in subsection (c), by striking
``$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2025'' and inserting ``$16,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) in subsection (d), by striking
``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30,
2030'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in section 747(c)(1) (42 U.S.C. 293k(c)(1)),
by striking ``$48,924,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2025'' and inserting ``$49,924,000 for each of fiscal years
2026 through 2030'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) in section 748(f) (42 U.S.C. 293k-2(f)), by
striking ``$28,531,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2025'' and inserting ``$42,673,000 for each of fiscal years
2026 through 2030'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) in section 751(j)(1) (42 U.S.C. 294a(j)(1)),
by striking ``$41,250,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2025'' and inserting ``$47,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2026 through 2030'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) in section 753(d) (42 U.S.C. 294c(d)), by
striking ``$40,737,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2025'' and inserting ``$48,245,000 for each of fiscal years
2026 through 2030'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) in section 761(e)(1)(A) (42 U.S.C.
294n(e)(1)(A)), by striking ``2021 through 2025'' and inserting
``2026 through 2030'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) in section 762(i) (42 U.S.C. 294o(i)), by
striking ``September 30, 2023'' and inserting ``September 30,
2030'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) in section 770(a) (42 U.S.C. 295e(a)), by
striking ``$17,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2025'' and inserting ``$18,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2026 through 2030'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (10) in section 775(e) (42 U.S.C. 295f(e)), by
striking ``is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.'' and
inserting the following: ``are authorized to be appropriated
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) to carry out subsection (c)(1)(A),
$5,000,000; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) to carry out subsection (c)(1)(B),
$5,000,000.''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (11) in section 776(i) (42 U.S.C. 295f-1(i)), by
striking ``2023 through 2025'' and inserting ``2026 through
2030''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. INVESTMENT IN TOMORROW'S PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE
WORKFORCE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 775 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
295f) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``be employed
full-time'' and inserting ``perform full-time
service'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in subsection (b)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``in an
area with a shortage of the specified pediatric
subspecialty that has a sufficient pediatric population
to support such pediatric subspecialty, as determined
by the Secretary'' and inserting ``to underserved
children or in an area with a shortage of the specified
pediatric subspecialty''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in paragraph (2)(B)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) by striking ``employment'' and
inserting ``service''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) by striking ``an area or''
and inserting ``a'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in subsection (c)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by striking the subsection designation
and heading and all that follows through the paragraph
designation and heading in paragraph (1) and inserting
the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(c) Eligibility.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) Definition of qualified health
professional.--In this section:'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in subparagraph (A)--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) in the matter
preceding clause (i), by inserting
``under this section'' after
``contracts''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (II) in clause (ii), by
striking ``subparagraph (B)'' and
inserting ``clause (i)''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) in subparagraph (B), in the
matter preceding clause (i), by inserting
``under this section'' after ``contracts'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``this subsection
with an eligible individual'' and inserting
``this section with a qualified health
professional'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) in subparagraph (A)--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) by striking
``individual'' and inserting
``qualified health professional'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (II) by striking
``medically underserved population''
and inserting ``medically underserved
pediatric population (including
children enrolled in the Medicaid
program under title XIX of the Social
Security Act)''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) in each of subparagraphs (B)
and (C), by striking ``individual'' and
inserting ``qualified health
professional'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) by redesignating subsection (e) (as amended by
section 2(10)) as subsection (f); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) by inserting after subsection (d) the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(e) Full-Time Service Obligations.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) In general.--With respect to qualified
health professionals described in subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (B)
of subsection (c)(1) who enter into contracts under this
section, the Secretary shall establish requirements for full-
time service that are consistent with the practice standards,
including research and teaching obligations, of the applicable
pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty,
or child and adolescent mental and behavioral health care field
in which such qualified health professional
practices.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) Fellowships or residencies.--With respect to
qualified health professionals described in subsection
(c)(1)(A)(i), the Secretary shall establish requirements for
full-time service that are consistent with the requirements of
the accrediting body for the applicable residency or fellowship
for full-time service.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 751 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
294a) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in subsection (c)(1)(G), by striking ``high
school'' and inserting ``pre-collegiate''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in subsection (h)(1)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``12
years'' and inserting ``2 award cycles''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``6
years'' and inserting ``1 award cycle''.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Educating Medical Professionals and
Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness for Health Act'' or the
``EMPOWER for Health Act''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS WORKFORCE PROGRAMS.
Title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292 et seq.)
is amended--
(1) in section 736(i) (42 U.S.C. 293(i)), by striking
``$23,711,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and
inserting ``$25,422,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through
2031'';
(2) in section 740 (42 U.S.C. 293d)--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``$51,470,000
for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and
inserting ``$55,014,000 for each of fiscal years 2027
through 2031'';
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``appropriated,
$1,190,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025''
and inserting ``appropriated $2,310,000 for each of
fiscal years 2027 through 2031'';
(C) in subsection (c), by striking ``fiscal years
2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2027
through 2031''; and
(D) in subsection (d), by striking ``September 30,
2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2031'';
(3) in section 747(c)(1) (42 U.S.C. 293k(c)(1)), by
striking ``$48,924,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2025'' and inserting ``$49,924,000 for each of fiscal years
2027 through 2031'';
(4) in section 748(f) (42 U.S.C. 293k-2(f)), by striking
``$28,531,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and
inserting ``$43,673,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through
2031'';
(5) in section 751(j)(1) (42 U.S.C. 294a(j)(1)), by
striking ``$41,250,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2025'' and inserting ``$47,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2027 through 2031'';
(6) in section 753(d) (42 U.S.C. 294c(d)), by striking
``$40,737,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and
inserting ``$48,245,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through
2031'';
(7) in section 761(e)(1)(A) (42 U.S.C. 294n(e)(1)(A)), by
striking ``2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``2027 through
2031'';
(8) in section 762(i) (42 U.S.C. 294o(i)), by striking
``September 30, 2023'' and inserting ``September 30, 2031'';
(9) in section 770(a) (42 U.S.C. 295e(a)), by striking
``$17,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and
inserting ``$18,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through
2031'';
(10) in section 775(e) (42 U.S.C. 295f(e)), by striking
``such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2021
through 2025.'' and inserting ``to carry out this section
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, to
remain available until expended.''; and
(11) in section 776(i) (42 U.S.C. 295f-1(i)), by striking
``2023 through 2025'' and inserting ``2027 through 2031''.
SEC. 3. INVESTMENT IN TOMORROW'S PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE.
Section 775 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295f) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``be employed full-
time'' and inserting ``perform full-time service'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``to underserved
pediatric populations, or to provide such care'' before
``in an area''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(B)--
(i) by striking ``employment'' and
inserting ``service''; and
(ii) by striking ``serving an area or
population described in such paragraph'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking the subsection designation and
heading and all that follows through the paragraph
designation and heading in paragraph (1) and inserting
the following:
``(c) Eligibility.--
``(1) Definition of qualified health professional.--In this
section:'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause
(i), by inserting ``under this
section'' after ``contracts''; and
(II) in clause (ii), by striking
``subparagraph (B)'' and inserting
``clause (i)''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause
(i), by inserting ``under this
section'' after ``contracts'';
(II) in clause (i), by striking
``or professional counseling'' and
inserting ``professional counseling, or
such other pediatric mental or
behavioral health discipline as the
Secretary determines appropriate''; and
(III) in clause (ii), by striking
``or professional counseling'' and
inserting ``professional counseling, or
such other pediatric mental or
behavioral health discipline as the
Secretary determines appropriate''; and
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``this subsection with an
eligible individual'' and inserting ``this
section with a qualified health professional'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``individual'' and
inserting ``qualified health
professional''; and
(II) by striking ``medically
underserved population'' and inserting
``medically underserved pediatric
population (including children enrolled
in the Medicaid program under title XIX
of the Social Security Act)''; and
(iii) in each of subparagraphs (B) and (C),
by striking ``individual'' and inserting
``qualified health professional'';
(4) by redesignating subsection (e) (as amended by section
2(10)) as subsection (h); and
(5) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
``(e) Full-Time Service Obligations.--
``(1) In general.--With respect to qualified health
professionals described in subsection (c)(1)(A)(i), qualified
health professionals described in subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii)
(including those who have completed their residency or
fellowship and have additional time remaining on their
contract), and qualified health professionals described in
subsection (c)(1)(B), the Secretary, in consultation with
organizations representing qualified pediatric health
professionals and service sites, shall establish requirements
for full-time service that include, at a minimum, a requirement
that half of the required service hours per contract year must
be providing direct clinical care. In establishing such
requirements, the Secretary shall ensure that such requirements
take into account the research and teaching obligations of
fellows in accredited pediatric residency and fellowship
programs.
``(2) Fellowships or residencies.--With respect to
qualified health professionals described in subsection
(c)(1)(A)(i), the Secretary shall establish requirements for
full-time service that are consistent with the requirements of
the accrediting body for the applicable residency or fellowship
for full-time service.
``(f) Breach of Contract.--
``(1) Liquidated damages formula.--The Secretary may
establish a liquidated damages formula to be used in the event
of a breach of a contract entered into under this section.
``(2) Limitation.--The failure by an individual to complete
the full period of service obligated pursuant to a contract
entered into under this section, taken alone, shall not
constitute a breach of such contract, so long as the individual
completed in good faith the years of service for which payments
were made to the individual under this section.
``(g) Termination of Contract.--The Secretary may terminate a
contract under this section in the same manner as the Secretary may
terminate a contract entered into under section 338B.''.
SEC. 4. AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS.
Section 751(c)(1)(G) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
294a(c)(1)(G)) is amended by inserting ``middle school and'' before
``high school''.
SEC. 5. STATE AND REGIONAL CENTERS FOR HEALTH WORKFORCE ANALYSIS.
(a) Expansion of Covered Programs.--Section 761(c)(1)(A) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294n(c)(1)(A)) is amended by
striking ``under this title'' and inserting ``under this Act''.
(b) Analysis and Technical Assistance.--Section 761(c) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294n(c)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(3) Minimum requirement.--At least one grant or contract
awarded under this subsection may be awarded to an eligible
entity that demonstrates--
``(A) a mission to advance and support the nursing
workforce;
``(B) experience and expertise in guiding State-
level nursing workforce centers;
``(C) experience in working with nursing workforce
data;
``(D) expertise in analytical methods and tools
appropriate for nursing workforce research; and
``(E) awareness of emerging topics, issues, and
trends related to the nursing workforce.
``(4) Analysis and reporting.--Analysis and reporting
carried out pursuant to a grant or contract under this
subsection may include--
``(A) collaborating with nursing workforce centers
to produce or deliver educational materials and
research with respect to the supply of nurses, the
demand for nurses, and the capacity to educate and
train the nursing workforce;
``(B) evaluating the programs and activities of the
nursing workforce centers overall;
``(C) developing evidence-based or evidence-
informed strategies and best practices to alleviate
nursing workforce shortages across States and regions;
and
``(D) conducting rapid data analysis and short-
term, issue-specific research.
``(5) Technical assistance.--Technical assistance provided
pursuant to this subsection may include--
``(A) providing technical assistance to nursing
workforce centers on the collection, analysis, and
reporting of standardized supply, demand, and education
and training data to inform analysis conducted pursuant
to this subsection;
``(B) collaborating with nursing workforce centers
to identify and deliver evidence-based or evidence-
informed strategies to alleviate nursing shortages and
the maldistribution of nurses;
``(C) providing online and in-person training
opportunities for nurses and other staff at nursing
workforce centers; and
``(D) developing and maintaining a website that--
``(i) is accessible to grant and contract
recipients under this section;
``(ii) supports resources for the provision
of technical assistance under this section,
such as--
``(I) evidence-based or evidence-
informed educational materials, tools,
recent findings of interest, and links
to relevant resources; and
``(II) logistical and
administrative information, such as
online trainings, webinars, and
publications; and
``(iii) includes a publicly accessible
repository of webinars, tools, and
resources.''.
Calendar No. 529
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4110
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the
Public Health Service Act.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 28, 2026
Reported with an amendment