[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S1093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Ms. Murkowski):
  S. 4110. A bill to revise and extend health workforce programs under 
title VII of the Public Health Service Act; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to be introducing the Educating 
Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and 
Readiness, EMPOWER, for Health Act with Senator Murkowski. Our 
bipartisan legislation would reauthorize funding for the title VII 
health professions programs to help strengthen the distribution, 
quality, and diversity of the health professions workforce so it is 
better prepared to meet the country's evolving and emerging health care 
needs.
  The title VII health professions programs have a longstanding history 
of increasing the supply of primary care professionals, expanding 
access to care in rural and urban underserved areas, and developing a 
workforce that reflects the Nation's diversity and the needs of 
patients. At a time when the country is facing persistent health 
provider shortages, it is critical that we continue to support the 
programs that build our healthcare workforce, such as scholarships for 
disadvantaged students, public health and preventive medicine, 
geriatrics training, area health education centers, oral health 
training, and primary care medicine.
  These education and training programs guide current and aspiring 
health professionals to high-demand careers in areas of greatest need, 
and this legislation will take an important step in ensuring that these 
programs can continue to serve students and patients for years to come. 
Our legislation addresses some ongoing challenges with the Pediatric 
Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program, clarifying eligibility 
requirements and making it easier for qualified pediatric 
subspecialists to apply.
  I want to thank the stakeholders supporting this bill, including AIDS 
Action Baltimore, AIDS Foundation Chicago, the AIDS Institute, the AIDS 
Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the 
American Association of Medical Colleges, the American Public Health 
Association, the American Society for Microbiology, the Association of 
Schools and Programs of Public Health, Big Cities Health Coalition, the 
Children's Hospital Association, Fast-Track Health, the Gerontological 
Society of America, the HIV Dental Alliance, the HIV Medicine 
Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the 
International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, the National 
Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, the National 
Association of County & City Health Officials, the National Association 
for Geriatric Education, the National Hispanic Medical Association, 
NMAC, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and the Society of Infectious 
Diseases Pharmacists and I urge my colleagues to join me and Senator 
Murkowski in working to pass the EMPOWER for Health Act this year.
                                 ______