Immigrants in Nursing and Allied Health Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.8021 | Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Adam (D-WA)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Immigrants in Nursing and Allied Health Act of 2022
This bill authorizes and expands programs to reduce barriers to enter the nursing or allied health professional workforce that are faced by some immigrants.
Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services may award grants to state, tribal, and local governments and private organizations for covering certain costs to assist lawfully present immigrants with entering such professions. These include costs related to education, training, or licensure and assistance in obtaining overseas academic or training records.
The bill also makes lawfully present immigrants eligible to participate in the National Health Services Corps. The corps provides scholarships and student loan repayment awards to health care providers who agree to work in areas with health care provider shortages.

To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants 
   to reduce barriers to immigrants becoming nurses or allied health 
      professionals in the United States, 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 ``Immigrants in Nursing and Allied 
Health Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO IMMIGRANTS BECOMING NURSES OR 
              ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

    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 IMMIGRANTS BECOMING NURSES OR 
              ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to State, local, 
and Tribal governments and private organizations 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 government 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--
                    ``(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 examination 
                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 subsection (k); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following:
    ``(j) Service by Immigrants.--Notwithstanding any provision of law 
that would otherwise require a member of the National Health Service 
Corps to be a United States citizen or national, an individual 
described in section 755A(a) may be eligible--
            ``(1) to serve in the National Health Service Corps; and
            ``(2) to participate in the National Health Service Corps 
        Scholarship Program under section 338A or the National Health 
        Service Corps Loan Repayment Program under section 338B.''.
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