119 S4110 RS: Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness for Health Act U.S. Senate 2026-07-28 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

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

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.

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;(4)by redesignating subsection (e) (as amended by section 2(10)) as subsection (f); 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 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.

Area health education centers

Section 751 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294a) is amended—(1)in subsection (c)(1)(G), by striking high school and inserting pre-collegiate; and(2)in subsection (h)(1)—(A)in subparagraph (A), by striking 12 years and inserting 2 award cycles; and(B)in subparagraph (B), by striking 6 years and inserting 1 award cycle.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

July 28, 2026

Reported with an amendment