I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8021 
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants 
to reduce barriers to immigrants becoming nurses or allied health profes-
sionals in the United States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 9, 2022 
Mr. SMITH of Washington (for himself and Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD) 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 to reduce barriers to immigrants becom-
ing nurses or allied health professionals in the United 
States, 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 ‘‘Immigrants in Nursing 
and Allied Health Act of 2022’’. 
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SEC. 2. GRANTS TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO IMMIGRANTS 
BECOMING NURSES OR ALLIED HEALTH PRO-
FESSIONALS. 
Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is amended 
by inserting after section 755 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
294e) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 755A. GRANTS TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO IMMI-
GRANTS 
BECOMING 
NURSES 
OR 
ALLIED 
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award grants 
to State, local, and Tribal governments and private orga-
nizations to reduce barriers to becoming nurses or allied 
health professionals in the United States for individuals 
who are— 
‘‘(1) lawfully admitted for permanent residence; 
‘‘(2) admitted as a refugee under section 207 of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act; 
‘‘(3) granted asylum under section 208 of such 
Act; or 
‘‘(4) an immigrant otherwise authorized to be 
employed in the United States. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—A State, local, or Tribal gov-
ernment receiving a grant under this section shall use the 
grant to reduce barriers described in subsection (a), which 
may include— 
‘‘(1) paying the costs of— 
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‘‘(A) education or training to become a 
nurse or allied health professional; and 
‘‘(B) licensing or certification, including 
the costs of preparing for and taking any exam-
ination applicable to the nursing or allied health 
profession selected by the individual; 
‘‘(2) providing a living stipend to individuals 
studying for such examination; 
‘‘(3) providing classes in English as a second 
language; and 
‘‘(4) assisting in obtaining overseas academic or 
training records.’’. 
SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN IMMIGRANTS TO SERVE 
IN NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS. 
Section 331 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 254d) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (j) as sub-
section (k); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (i) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(j) SERVICE
BY
IMMIGRANTS.—Notwithstanding 
any provision of law that would otherwise require a mem-
ber of the National Health Service Corps to be a United 
States citizen or national, an individual described in sec-
tion 755A(a) may be eligible— 
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‘‘(1) to serve in the National Health Service 
Corps; and 
‘‘(2) to participate in the National Health Serv-
ice Corps Scholarship Program under section 338A 
or the National Health Service Corps Loan Repay-
ment Program under section 338B.’’. 
Æ 
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