[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 67 (Wednesday, May 7, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S5861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CAMPBELL:

[[Page S5861]]

  S. 1008. A bill to provide for the establishment of summer health 
career introductory programs for middle and high school students; to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation aimed 
at addressing the long term shortage of workers in our health care 
system.
  In recent months, America's health care workforce shortage has made 
headline news. While most of the stories have focused on the lack of 
nurses, the shortage of health care professionals also includes 
radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, clinical laboratory 
scientists, imaging technologists, rehabilitation professionals, 
pharmacists and others.
  This shortage is different than the one hospitals have experienced in 
the past because it is only the prelude to a long-term shortage of 
crisis proportions. The demand for health care is increasing as 
Americans are living longer than previous generations, and advances in 
medicine have let more people live with chronic and age-related 
diseases. With the demand for hospital services increasing because of a 
growing and aging population, the workforce shortages present our 
Nation with a potential health care crisis. I believe we must do 
something to change this disturbing trend.
  In my State of Colorado, a task force made up of community colleges, 
universities, corporations, hospitals, social services and interested 
community activists has been convened to actively find solutions for 
the workforce shortages. One of the proposals would be to hold a health 
career summer youth camp under the title, Gee Whiz Jobs, where young 
people would be introduced to a full range of career possibilities in 
the health care field. I believe this idea and their program can become 
a model for other such programs throughout the country.
  The legislation I am introducing today attempts to build on the 
career camp idea. It authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services to make demonstration grants to accredited universities and/or 
community colleges to establish summer health career introductory 
programs for middle school and high school students.
  Many students are not prepared in the necessary levels of math, 
science and reading to enter health education programs directly out of 
high school. Many others have never been exposed to health careers and 
do not even consider them as a possibility. And, a significant number 
have little knowledge of the range of career possibilities or what the 
working environments may be like. Summer school exposure to health 
careers which allows young people to visit hospitals, doctors' offices, 
emergency rooms, and community health clinics and witness professionals 
at work in providing health care services may be just what they need to 
guide them into a health career.
  I believe that we must broaden the base of health care workers by 
designing strategies that attract and retain a diverse workforce. We 
must collaborate with others--hospitals, health care and professional 
associations, educational institutions, corporations, philanthropic 
organizations, and government to attract new entrants to the health 
professions. And, we must begin these efforts early in the lives of our 
young people.
  It is going to take all of us--educators, government and community 
officials, hospital leaders, health care workers, and the public--
working together to meet the challenge facing our health care system 
today. That is why I urge my colleagues to act quickly on this 
legislation. Let's begin to aggressively address the health care worker 
shortage in a way that will carry us into the future.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1008

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

     SECTION 1. SUMMER HEALTH CAREER INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the success of the health care system is dependent on 
     qualified personnel;
       (2) hospitals and health facilities across the United 
     States have been deeply impacted by declines among nurses, 
     pharmacists, radiology and laboratory technicians, and other 
     workers;
       (3) the health care workforce shortage is not a short term 
     problem and such workforce shortages can be expected for many 
     years; and
       (4) most States are looking for ways to address such 
     shortages.
       (b) Grants.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
     acting through the Bureau of Health Professions of the Health 
     Resources and Services Administration, may award not to 
     exceed 5 grants for the establishment of summer health career 
     introductory programs for middle and high school students.
       (c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     subsection (b) an entity shall--
       (1) be an institution of higher education (as defined in 
     section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1001(a)); and
       (2) prepare and submit to the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services an application at such time, in such manner, and 
     containing such information as the Secretary may require.
       (d) Duration.--The term of a grant under subsection (b) 
     shall not exceed 4 years.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as 
     may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2007.
                                 ______