I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3637 
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, audiology, and speech-language pathology, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 9, 2019 
Mr. RUSH (for himself and Mrs. RODGERS of Washington) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
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 ther-
apy, audiology, and speech-language pathology, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Allied Health Work-
force Diversity Act of 2019’’. 
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SEC. 2. INCREASING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY IN THE PRO-
FESSIONS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPA-
TIONAL THERAPY, AUDIOLOGY, AND SPEECH- 
LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY. 
Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is amend-
ed— 
(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 THER-
APY, OCCUPATIONAL 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, occu-
pational therapy, audiology, and speech-language pathol-
ogy for eligible individuals by— 
‘‘(1) providing student scholarships or stipends, 
including for— 
‘‘(A) completion of an accelerated degree 
program; 
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‘‘(B) completion of an associate’s, bach-
elor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree program; 
and 
‘‘(C) entry by a diploma or associate’s de-
gree practitioner into a bridge or degree com-
pletion program; 
‘‘(2) providing assistance for completion of pre-
requisite courses or other preparation necessary for 
acceptance for enrollment in the eligible entity; and 
‘‘(3) carrying out activities to increase the re-
tention of students in one or more programs in the 
professions of physical therapy, occupational ther-
apy, audiology, and speech-language pathology. 
‘‘(b) CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS.—In 
carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into 
consideration the recommendations of national organiza-
tions representing the professions of physical therapy, oc-
cupational therapy, audiology, and speech-language pa-
thology, including the American Physical Therapy Asso-
ciation, the American Occupational Therapy Association, 
the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the 
American Academy of Audiology, and the Academy of 
Doctors of Audiology. 
‘‘(c) REQUIRED INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS FOR 
AWARD RECIPIENTS.— 
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