Public Health Nursing Act
House Bill Would Fund Grants to Hire and Train Public Health Nurses in High-Need Communities
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Congress would require the Health Department to run a national program to grow the public health nursing workforce.
- The Health Department could give grants to state, local, and territorial health departments to recruit, hire, and train registered nurses as public health nurses.
- Grant money could pay for wages and benefits, needed medical supplies like protective gear, and basic administrative costs tied to the program.
- The bill prioritizes communities with major health needs, like high chronic disease rates, maternal and infant health problems, low-income areas, and rural areas.
- It would authorize $5 billion each year from 2026 through 2035 to support these hiring and service efforts, while requiring states to keep up their own non-federal spending levels.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articles
Rep. Stansbury Introduces Bill To Bring More Nurses To New Mexico
The Public Health Nursing Act, introduced by Rep. Melanie Stansbury, seeks to address the nation's nursing shortage by authorizing $5 billion annually for a CDC grant program. The funds would help public health departments recruit, train, and hire licensed registered nurses.
Markey Introduces Public Health Nursing Act
Senator Edward J. Markey reintroduced the Public Health Nursing Act in the 119th Congress. The legislation requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and sustain a public health nursing workforce through grants to state and local health departments.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Public Health Nursing Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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