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Titles Actions Overview All Actions Cosponsors Committees Related Bills Subjects Latest Summary All Summaries

Titles (3)

Short Titles

Short Titles - House of Representatives

Short Titles as Passed House

EMPOWER for Health Act of 2019
Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness for Health Act of 2019

Official Titles

Official Titles - House of Representatives

Official Title as Introduced

To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to the health professions workforce, and for other purposes.


Actions Overview (3)

Date Actions Overview
10/28/2019Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8509-8511)
09/24/2019Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-214.
05/16/2019Introduced in House

All Actions (15)

Date Chamber All Actions
10/29/2019SenateReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
10/28/2019-6:06pmHouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
10/28/2019-6:06pmHouseOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8509-8511)
10/28/2019-5:55pmHouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2781.
10/28/2019-5:55pmHouseConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8509-8513)
10/28/2019-5:54pmHouseMs. Schakowsky moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
09/24/2019HousePlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 169.
09/24/2019HouseReported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-214.
07/17/2019HouseOrdered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Action By: Committee on Energy and Commerce
07/17/2019HouseCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Action By: Committee on Energy and Commerce
07/11/2019HouseForwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
Action By: House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health
07/11/2019HouseSubcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Action By: House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health
05/17/2019HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Action By: Committee on Energy and Commerce
05/16/2019HouseReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
05/16/2019HouseIntroduced in House

Cosponsors (15)


Committees (2)

Committees, subcommittees and links to reports associated with this bill are listed here, as well as the nature and date of committee activity and Congressional report number.

Committee / Subcommittee Date Activity Reports
House Energy and Commerce05/16/2019 Referred to
07/17/2019 Markup by
09/24/2019 Reported by H. Rept. 116-214
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health05/17/2019 Referred to
07/11/2019 Markup by
07/11/2019 Reported by
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions10/29/2019 Referred to

A related bill may be a companion measure, an identical bill, a procedurally-related measure, or one with text similarities. Bill relationships are identified by the House, the Senate, or CRS, and refer only to same-congress measures.


Latest Summary (3)

There are 3 summaries for H.R.2781. View summaries

Shown Here:
Passed House (10/28/2019)

Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness for Health Act of 2019 or the EMPOWER for Health Act of 2019

This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 certain Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) training and education grants programs for health care professionals, including, among others, funding to increase the number of health care professionals from underrepresented groups.

The bill also revises and reauthorizes through FY2024 the HRSA Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program and the Geriatrics Academic Career Award Program. Grants under these programs may be used to (1) support clinical training and integrate health care services for older adults and (2) promote the career development of eligible faculty specializing in geriatric health. HRSA must prioritize the funding of training and services in rural and underserved areas.

Further, the bill reauthorizes the pediatric specialty loan repayment program. The program provides qualified pediatric medical specialists or child and adolescent mental, behavioral, and psychiatric health specialists up to three years of loan repayment in exchange for two years of service providing health care in an area with limited access to such care.

Finally, the bill establishes grants for education programs to provide scholarships or stipends to students from underrepresented groups who are enrolled in programs for physical or occupational therapy, audiology, or speech-language pathology.