[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 7 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S324-S325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE:
  S. 66. A bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to 
revise and extend certain programs relating to the education of 
individuals as health professionals, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


    Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Education Act of 2001

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce the Physical and 
Occupational Therapy Education Act of 2001. This legislation will 
increase educational opportunities for physical therapy and 
occupational therapy practitioners in order to meet the growing demand 
for the valuable services they provide in our communities.
  Several factors contribute to the present need for federal support in 
this area. The rapid aging of our nation's population, the demands of 
the AIDS crisis, increasing emphasis on health promotion and disease 
prevention, and the growth of home health care has increased the demand 
for physical and occupational therapy services. This demand has 
exceeded our ability to educate an adequate number of physical 
therapists and occupational therapists.

[[Page S325]]

In addition, technological advances are allowing injured and disabled 
individuals to survive conditions that would have proven fatal in past 
years.
  An inadequate number of physical therapists has led to an increased 
reliance on foreign-educated, non-immigrant temporary workers (H-1B 
visa holders). The U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform has identified 
physical therapy and occupational therapy as having the highest number 
of H-1B visa holders in the United States, second only to computer 
specialists.
  In addition to the shortage of practitioners, a shortage of faculty 
impedes the expansion of established education programs. The critical 
shortage of doctoral-prepared occupational therapists and physical 
therapists has resulted in a depleted pool of potential faculty. This 
bill would assist in the development of qualified faculty by giving 
preference to grant applicants seeking to develop and expand post-
professional programs for the advanced training of physical and 
occupational therapists.
  The legislation I introduce today would provide necessary assistance 
to physical and occupational therapy programs throughout the country. 
The investment we make will help reduce America's dependence on foreign 
labor and create highly-skilled, high-wage employment opportunities for 
American citizens.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be 
printed in the Congressional Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 66

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Physical Therapy and 
     Occupational Therapy Education Act of 2001''.

     SEC. 2. PHYSICAL THERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.

       Subpart 2 of part E of title VII of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295 et seq.) is amended by inserting 
     after section 769, the following:

     ``SEC. 769A. PHYSICAL THERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may make grants to, and 
     enter into contracts with, programs of physical therapy and 
     occupational therapy for the purpose of planning and 
     implementing projects to recruit and retain faculty and 
     students, develop curriculum, support the distribution of 
     physical therapy and occupational therapy practitioners in 
     underserved areas, or support the continuing development of 
     these professions.
       ``(b) Preference in Making Grants.--In making grants under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall give preference to 
     qualified applicants that seek to educate physical therapists 
     or occupational therapists in rural or urban medically 
     underserved communities, or to expand post-professional 
     programs for the advanced education of physical therapy or 
     occupational therapy practitioners.
       ``(c) Peer Review.--Each peer review group under section 
     799(f) that is reviewing proposals for grants or contracts 
     under subsection (a) shall include not fewer than 2 physical 
     therapists or occupational therapists.
       ``(d) Report to Congress.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall prepare a report 
     that--
       ``(A) summarizes the applications submitted to the 
     Secretary for grants or contracts under subsection (a);
       ``(B) specifies the identity of entities receiving the 
     grants or contracts; and
       ``(C) evaluates the effectiveness of the program based upon 
     the objectives established by the entities receiving the 
     grants or contracts.
       ``(2) Date certain for submission.--Not later than February 
     1, 2003, the Secretary shall submit the report prepared under 
     paragraph (1) to the Committee on Commerce and the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
       ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out this section, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2002 
     through 2005.''.
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