[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1679 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1679
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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 18, 2021
Mr. Casey (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
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. 294n et seq.) 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 2 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 education program that--
``(A) is accredited by--
``(i) the Council on Academic Accreditation
in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology or
the Accreditation Commission for Audiology
Education;
``(ii) the Commission on Accreditation in
Physical Therapy Education;
``(iii) the Accreditation Council for
Occupational Therapy Education; or
``(iv) the Commission on Accreditation for
Respiratory Care; and
``(B) 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, speech-language pathology (including
individuals who are racial or ethnic minorities, or are
from disadvantaged backgrounds or 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 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.''.
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