[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3320 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 155
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3320
[Report No. 117-214]
To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to authorize
assistance for increasing workforce diversity in the professions of
physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology,
and speech-language pathology, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 18, 2021
Mr. Rush (for himself and Mr. Mullin) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
December 8, 2021
Additional sponsors: Mrs. Axne, Ms. Barragan, Mrs. Beatty, Ms.
Bonamici, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr.
Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Cleaver, Ms.
Dean, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Evans, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Soto, Mr.
Castro of Texas, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Pappas,
Mr. Yarmuth, Ms. Ross, Mr. Malinowski, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Kahele, Mr.
Trone, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr. Cole, Ms. Schakowsky,
Ms. Underwood, Ms. Wild, Ms. Manning, Mr. Allred, Ms. Herrera Beutler,
Ms. Blunt Rochester, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Quigley, Miss Gonzalez-Colon, and
Ms. Williams of Georgia
December 8, 2021
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 18,
2021]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to authorize
assistance for increasing workforce diversity in the professions of
physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology,
and speech-language pathology, and for other purposes.
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 ``Allied Health Workforce Diversity
Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. INCREASING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY IN THE PROFESSIONS OF PHYSICAL
THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, RESPIRATORY THERAPY,
AUDIOLOGY, AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY.
Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is amended--
(1) by redesignating part G (42 U.S.C. 295j et seq.) as
part H; and
(2) by inserting after part F (42 U.S.C. 295h) the
following new part:
``PART G--INCREASING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY IN THE PROFESSIONS OF PHYSICAL
THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, RESPIRATORY THERAPY, AUDIOLOGY, AND
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
``SEC. 783. SCHOLARSHIPS AND STIPENDS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants and contracts to
eligible entities to increase educational opportunities in the
professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory
therapy, audiology, and speech-language pathology for eligible
individuals by--
``(1) providing student scholarships or stipends, including
for--
``(A) completion of an accelerated degree program;
``(B) completion of an associate's, bachelor's,
master's, or doctoral degree program; and
``(C) entry by a diploma or associate's degree
practitioner into a bridge or degree completion
program;
``(2) providing assistance for completion of prerequisite
courses or other preparation necessary for acceptance for
enrollment in the eligible entity; and
``(3) carrying out activities to increase the retention of
students in one or more programs in the professions of physical
therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology,
and speech-language pathology.
``(b) Consideration of Recommendations.--In carrying out subsection
(a), the Secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of
national organizations representing the professions of physical
therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, and
speech-language pathology, including the American Physical Therapy
Association, the American Occupational Therapy Association, the
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Association
for Respiratory Care, the American Academy of Audiology, and the
Academy of Doctors of Audiology.
``(c) Required Information and Conditions for Award Recipients.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may require recipients of
awards under this section to report to the Secretary concerning
the annual admission, retention, and graduation rates for
eligible individuals in programs of the recipient leading to a
degree in any of the professions of physical therapy,
occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, and
speech-language pathology.
``(2) Falling rates.--If any of the rates reported by a
recipient under paragraph (1) fall below the average for such
recipient over the two years preceding the year covered by the
report, the recipient shall provide the Secretary with plans
for immediately improving such rates.
``(3) Ineligibility.--A recipient described in paragraph
(2) shall be ineligible for continued funding under this
section if the plan of the recipient fails to improve the rates
within the 1-year period beginning on the date such plan is
implemented.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible entities.--The term `eligible entity' means
an accredited education program that is carrying out a program
for recruiting and retaining students underrepresented in the
professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy,
respiratory therapy, audiology, and speech-language pathology
(including racial or ethnic minorities, or students from
disadvantaged backgrounds).
``(2) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible individual'
means an individual who--
``(A) is a member of a class of persons who are
underrepresented in the professions of physical
therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy,
audiology, and speech-language pathology, including
individuals who are--
``(i) racial or ethnic minorities;
``(ii) from disadvantaged backgrounds; or
``(iii) individuals with a disability (as
defined in section 3(1) of the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990), or who have an
individualized education program (as defined in
section 602 of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act), are covered under
section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
or have other documentation establishing the
student's disability (as such term is defined
in section 3(1) of the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990);
``(B) has a financial need for a scholarship or
stipend; and
``(C) is enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) at
an audiology, speech-language pathology, respiratory
therapy, physical therapy, or occupational therapy
program as a full-time student at an eligible entity.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $8,000,000 for the first fiscal
year commencing after the date of enactment of the Allied Health
Workforce Diversity Act of 2021 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal
years.''.
SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY CLARIFICATION REGARDING STUDENTS SUPPORTED THROUGH
MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND TRAINING
GRANTS.
Section 756(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294e-
1(a)(1)) is amended by inserting after ``occupational therapy'' the
following: ``(which may include master's and doctoral level
programs)''.
Union Calendar No. 155
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3320
[Report No. 117-214]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to authorize
assistance for increasing workforce diversity in the professions of
physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology,
and speech-language pathology, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 8, 2021
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed