[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7907 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7907
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants
for career support for a skilled, internationally educated health care
workforce.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 9, 2024
Mr. Krishnamoorthi introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants
for career support for a skilled, internationally educated health care
workforce.
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 ``Welcome Back to the Health Care
Workforce Act''.
SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR SKILLED INTERNATIONALLY EDUCATED HEALTH CARE
WORKFORCE.
(a) In General.--Subpart 3 of part E of title VII of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295f et seq.) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``SEC. 779. SUPPORT FOR SKILLED INTERNATIONALLY EDUCATED HEALTH CARE
WORKFORCE.
``(a) Grants Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act,
the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to
provide career support for internationally educated health care
professionals to integrate into, and expand, the health care
workforce.
``(2) Consultation.--Before awarding any grants under this
section, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of
Labor and the Secretary of Education.
``(b) Application.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity desiring a grant
under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Contents.--An application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall include--
``(A) a description of each project described in
subsection (d) that the eligible entity proposes to
develop or continue under the grant;
``(B) information demonstrating that the eligible
entity has the capacity to fully carry out and
administer such projects;
``(C) a plan for the proposed projects that
includes, at a minimum--
``(i) demographic information regarding the
population to be served by the grant and how
the current health care workforce, as of the
date of application, is not meeting the health
needs of the community to be served, including
information on the health care workforce
shortages in the area to be served by the
grant; and
``(ii) a description of how the eligible
entity will make use of grant funds to support
the identification and advancement of
internationally educated health care
professionals in the geographic area to be
served by the grant;
``(D) a description of the eligible entity's
experience in working with internationally educated
health care professionals;
``(E) a description of the partnership the eligible
entity has formed with various entities, including
institutions of higher education and health care
employers; and
``(F) any additional information determined
relevant by the Secretary.
``(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities whose projects
support the recruitment and retention of--
``(1) internationally educated health care professionals in
professions in communities experiencing gaps between their
existing health care workforce, as of the date of the
application for the grant, and the needs of the community; or
``(2) internationally educated health care professionals in
rural communities.
``(d) Use of Funds.--
``(1) Supported projects.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and
(3), an eligible entity receiving a grant under this
section shall use grant funds to carry out--
``(i) 1 or more system-level improvement
projects described in subparagraph (B); and
``(ii) 1 or more individual-level
improvement projects described in subparagraph
(C).
``(B) System-level improvements.--A project
described in this subparagraph expands culturally and
linguistically competent supports for internationally
educated health care professionals, which may include--
``(i) establishing a network of partners
that offer prerequisite educational
opportunities and continuing education
opportunities;
``(ii) developing peer support and
mentoring opportunities;
``(iii) educating employers regarding the
abilities and capacities of internationally
educated health care professionals;
``(iv) developing career ladder
opportunities for internationally educated
health care professionals, such as--
``(I) developing a system to
provide ongoing supportive services
once employment is obtained;
``(II) funding leadership
development, continuing education,
preparatory classes, examinations, and
licensing and certification costs, in
order to support health care workforce
advancement; or
``(III) education and support on
how to serve as an educator in a
clinical or academic setting; or
``(v) creating and carrying out projects
for the purposes of increasing the retention of
internationally educated health care
professionals in the health care workforce.
``(C) Individual-level improvements.--A project
described in this subparagraph tailors individual
support for internationally educated health care
professionals, which may include--
``(i) support for the licensing process;
``(ii) funding and facilitating access to
accelerated and contextualized courses on
English as a second language and board or
licensure examination preparation;
``(iii) culturally competent individualized
career counseling and coaching;
``(iv) individualized guidance and support
for the credentialing evaluation process;
``(v) providing individualized work-
readiness supports and clinical experience and
training for internationally educated health
care professionals who need such supports,
experience, or training;
``(vi) educating internationally educated
health care professionals employed by the
eligible entity on their rights as employees;
``(vii) providing individualized supportive
services to internationally educated health
care professionals in order to support their
employment, retention, or career advancement,
which may include support for living expenses,
health care, or transportation; or
``(viii) assisting internationally educated
health care professionals in obtaining overseas
academic or training records.
``(2) Use for administrative costs.--Each eligible entity
receiving a grant under this section may use not more than 10
percent of the grant funds for costs associated with the
administration of the projects under this subsection.
``(3) Minimum requirement to provide direct support.--Each
eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use
not less than 20 percent of the grant funds to carry out
projects described in paragraph (1)(B).
``(e) Supplement, Not Supplant.--An eligible entity receiving a
grant under this section shall use such grant only to supplement, and
not supplant, the amount of funds that otherwise would be available to
address the recruitment, training and education, retention, and
advancement of internationally educated health care professionals in
the health care workforce of the State or region served by the eligible
entity.
``(f) Evaluations and Reports.--
``(1) Reporting requirements by grant recipients.--
``(A) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a
grant under this section shall annually provide a
report on the grant to the Secretary, at such time and
containing such data and information as requested by
the Secretary.
``(B) Contents.--The report submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include--
``(i) the number of internationally
educated health care professionals who
participated in the projects supported under
the grant; and
``(ii) for each project carried out under
the grant, in the aggregate and disaggregated
by the demographic categories as required by
the Secretary--
``(I) the number of internationally
educated health care professionals who
accessed services, benefits, or
supports through the project;
``(II) the number of
internationally educated health care
professionals who through the project
attained employment in the health care
workforce, in the aggregate and
disaggregated by occupation and
industry;
``(III) the number of
internationally educated health care
professionals who participated in the
project and withdrew, unsuccessfully
attempted to obtain board
certification, or were terminated from
the project without completing training
or attaining employment in the health
care workforce; and
``(IV) data on the country of
education of the participating
internationally educated health care
professionals.
``(2) Annual reports to congress by secretary.--Not later
than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Welcome Back to
the Health Care Workforce Act, and each year thereafter until
all projects supported under this section are completed, the
Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report on the
progress of each project supported under a grant under this
section.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
consortium of 2 or more of the following:
``(A) A hospital, health system, or other entity
that provides health care.
``(B) A community-based or other nonprofit entity
with experience in clinical health or public health
services.
``(C) An institution of higher education.
``(D) An area health education center.
``(E) A State government, local government, or
Indian Tribe.
``(F) A Federally qualified health center.
``(G) Any other type of entity determined
appropriate by the Secretary.
``(2) Employ; employer.--The terms `employ' and `employer'
have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Fair
Labor Standards Act of 1938.
``(3) Health care workforce.--The term `health care
workforce' means the workforce comprised of health care
providers with direct patient care and support responsibilities
and public health workers.
``(4) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' means the
recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe,
band, nation, pueblo, village, community band, or component
reservation individually identified (including parenthetically)
in the list published most recently as of the date of enactment
of the Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act, pursuant
to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List
Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).
``(5) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given the
term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
``(6) Internationally educated health care professional.--
The term `internationally educated health care professional'
means an individual who--
``(A) completed the education requirements for a
health care workforce profession in another country;
and
``(B) is--
``(i) lawfully admitted for permanent
residence;
``(ii) admitted as a refugee under section
207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act;
``(iii) granted asylum under section 208 of
such Act; or
``(iv) an alien otherwise authorized to be
employed in the United States.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary
for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''.
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