Calendar No. 529
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session |
To revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act.
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
Reported by Mr. Cassidy, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
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,
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 “$28,422,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030”;
(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 2026 through 2030”;
(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”;
(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
(D) in subsection (d), by striking “September 30, 2025” and inserting “September 30, 2030”;
(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”;
(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”;
(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”;
(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”;
(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”;
(8) in section 762(i) (42 U.S.C. 294o(i)), by striking “September 30, 2023” and inserting “September 30, 2030”;
(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”;
(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—
“(1) to carry out subsection (c)(1)(A), $5,000,000; and
“(2) to carry out subsection (c)(1)(B), $5,000,000.”; and
(11) in section 776(i) (42 U.S.C. 295f–1(i)), by striking “2023 through 2025” and inserting “2026 through 2030”.
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 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
(B) in paragraph (2)(B)—
(i) by striking “employment” and inserting “service”; and
(ii) by striking “an area or” and inserting “a”;
(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), in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting “under this section” after “contracts”; 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”;
(5) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
“(e) Full-Time service obligations.—
“(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.
“(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.”.
SEC. 4. Area health education centers.
Section 751 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294a) is amended—
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”;
(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)—
(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:
(B) in paragraph (1)—
(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.
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—
“(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;
“(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
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Calendar No. 529 |
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A BILL
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To revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act.
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July 28, 2026
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Reported with an amendment
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