EMPOWER for Health Act

Jack Reed

Democrat · RI · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)Original· 2026-03-17

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 529.

2026-07-28

Source: Congress.gov

Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness for Health Act or the EMPOWER for Health Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and revises a range of programs that provide funding and other resources to support recruiting, training, and retaining individuals to work or teach in the health professions. These programs are administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). For instance, the bill revises an educational loan repayment program for certain pediatric health specialists that agree to practice in areas with shortages of such specialists. The bill (1) requires direct clinical care to comprise at least half of the required service hours, (2) broadens the eligible specialties to include any pediatric mental or behavioral health discipline HRSA determines appropriate, and (3) specifically authorizes focusing care on children enrolled in Medicaid. Also, the bill specifically authorizes grants to entities such as states and health professions schools for supporting the nursing workforce by providing analysis, technical assistance, and best practices for alleviating nursing workforce shortages. Finally, the bill expands grants for recruiting youth into public health careers to include outreach to middle school students (current law only includes outreach to high school students).

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4110 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4110 To revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 17, 2026 Mr. Reed (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act. 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 ``Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness for Health Act'' or the ``EMPOWER for Health Act''. SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. Title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292 et seq.) is amended-- (1) in section 736(i) (42 U.S.C. 293(i)), by striking ``$23,711,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``$28,422,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030''; (2) in section 740 (42 U.S.C. 293d)-- (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``$51,470,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``$55,014,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030''; (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``appropriated, $1,190,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``appropriated $2,310,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030''; (C) in subsection (c), by striking ``$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``$16,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030''; and (D) in subsection (d), by striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2030''; (3) in section 747(c)(1) (42 U.S.C. 293k(c)(1)), by striking ``$48,924,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``$49,924,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030''; (4) in section 748(f) (42 U.S.C. 293k-2(f)), by striking ``$28,531,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``$42,673,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030''; (5) in section 751(j)(1) (42 U.S.C. 294a(j)(1)), by striking ``$41,250,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``$47,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030''; (6) in section 753(d) (42 U.S.C. 294c(d)), by striking ``$40,737,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``$48,245,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030''; (7) in section 761(e)(1)(A) (42 U.S.C. 294n(e)(1)(A)), by striking ``2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``2026 through 2030''; (8) in section 762(i) (42 U.S.C. 294o(i)), by striking ``September 30, 2023'' and inserting ``September 30, 2030''; (9) in section 770(a) (42 U.S.C. 295e(a)), by striking ``$17,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``$18,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030''; (10) in section 775(e) (42 U.S.C. 295f(e)), by striking ``is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.'' and inserting the following: ``are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030-- ``(1) to carry out subsection (c)(1)(A), $5,000,000; and ``(2) to carry out subsection (c)(1)(B), $5,000,000.''; and (11) in section 776(i) (42 U.S.C. 295f-1(i)), by striking ``2023 through 2025'' and inserting ``2026 through 2030''. SEC. 3. INVESTMENT IN TOMORROW'S PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE. Section 775 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295f) is amended-- (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``be employed full- time'' and inserting ``perform full-time service''; (2) in subsection (b)-- (A) in paragraph (1), by…

striking ``in an area with a shortage of the specified pediatric subspecialty that has a sufficient pediatric population to support such pediatric subspecialty, as determined by the Secretary'' and inserting ``to underserved children or in an area with a shortage of the specified pediatric subspecialty''; and (B) in paragraph (2)(B)-- (i) by striking ``employment'' and inserting ``service''; and (ii) by striking ``an area or'' and inserting ``a''; (3) in subsection (c)-- (A) by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through the paragraph designation and heading in paragraph (1) and inserting the following: ``(c) Eligibility.-- ``(1) Definition of qualified health professional.--In this section:''; (B) in paragraph (1)-- (i) in subparagraph (A)-- (I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting ``under this section'' after ``contracts''; and (II) in clause (ii), by striking ``subparagraph (B)'' and inserting ``clause (i)''; and (ii) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting ``under this section'' after ``contracts''; and (C) in paragraph (2)-- (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``this subsection with an eligible individual'' and inserting ``this section with a qualified health professional''; (ii) in subparagraph (A)-- (I) by striking ``individual'' and inserting ``qualified health professional''; and (II) by striking ``medically underserved population'' and inserting ``medically underserved pediatric population (including children enrolled in the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act)''; and (iii) in each of subparagraphs (B) and (C), by striking ``individual'' and inserting ``qualified health professional''; (4) by redesignating subsection (e) (as amended by section 2(10)) as subsection (f); and (5) by inserting after subsection (d) the following: ``(e) Full-Time Service Obligations.-- ``(1) In general.--With respect to qualified health professionals described in subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (B) of subsection (c)(1) who enter into contracts under this section, the Secretary shall establish requirements for full-time service that are consistent with the practice standards, including research and teaching obligations, of the applicable pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, or child and adolescent mental and behavioral health care field in which such qualified health professional practices. ``(2) Fellowships or residencies.--With respect to qualified health professionals described in subsection (c)(1)(A)(i), the Secretary shall establish requirements for full-time service that are consistent with the requirements of the accrediting body for the applicable residency or fellowship for full-time service.''. SEC. 4. AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS. Section 751 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294a) is amended-- (1) in subsection (c)(1)(G), by striking ``high school'' and inserting ``pre-collegiate''; and (2) in subsection (h)(1)-- (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``12 years'' and inserting ``2 award cycles''; and (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``6 years'' and inserting ``1 award cycle''. <all>

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