Krishnamoorthi and Smith Reintroduce Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act to Strengthen America's Health Care Workforce

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) introduced the Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act, legislation to help address the nation's persistent health care workforce shortage by helping internationally educated health care professionals overcome barriers to practicing in the United States. Of the two million college-educated immigrants currently living in the United States, roughly 14 percent hold health-related degrees. Yet many remain unable to work in their professions because of licensing, credentialing, language, and other barriers, even as hospitals, clinics, and long-term care providers across the country struggle to fill critical positions. According to the Migration Policy Institute, this underutilized talent represents a missed opportunity to strengthen the nation's health care workforce while contributing to an estimated $10 billion in lost federal, state, and local tax revenue each year.

"Across the country, communities are struggling with health care workforce shortages while highly qualified doctors, nurses, and other health professionals trained overseas remain sidelined by unnecessary barriers," Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. "Our legislation will help connect these talented professionals with the support they need to earn U.S. credentials, join the workforce more quickly, and expand access to quality care for patients across the country."

"It makes no economic sense to have trained nurses and doctors working far outside their field while hospitals can't fill shifts and patients wait longer for care," said Congressman Smith. "This bill doesn't lower a single standard - it removes barriers that keeps qualified professionals from contributing at the level of their skills. That's a practical, commonsense fix to a workforce problem employers across the country are asking us to solve."

"The 9th District is one of the most diverse in the nation, and that diversity is an economic asset. In Kent, SeaTac, Tukwila, and South Seattle, we have neighbors with health care degrees and years of clinical experience who want nothing more than to serve their communities," Smith continued. "Putting their talents to work means shorter wait times, more culturally competent care, and stronger family incomes right here in King County."

Specifically, the Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act would establish a grant program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to:

1. Support local- and state-level partnerships among health care organizations, community-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and state and local governments to help internationally educated health care professionals enter the U.S. health care workforce.
2. Help internationally educated health care professionals overcome barriers to licensure and employment by:
   1. Assisting with obtaining overseas academic and training records and navigating the U.S. licensing and credentialing process;
   2. Providing work-readiness programs, peer support, mentoring, and culturally competent career counseling;
   3. Expanding access to prerequisite coursework, continuing education, and English-language instruction; and
   4. Supporting opportunities to address classroom and clinical instructor shortages.
3. Prioritize partnerships focused on helping health care workers serve rural communities or fill critical workforce shortages in underserved areas.

The legislation is supported by: Advocates for Community Health, Afghan Cultural Society, American Geriatrics Society, American Public Health Association, American Seniors Housing Association, America's Essential Hospitals, Arkansas United, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, Association of Dental Support Organizations, Ballad Health, California Immigrants Resources Center, CGFNS International, Chemeketa Community College, Federation of American Hospitals, Gerontological Society of America, Global Cleveland, IMPRINT Coalition, Intealth, International Institute of Buffalo, Jewish Family Service of San Diego, LeadingAge, Lifepoint Health, Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, Medicos Unidos Venezuela, National AHEC Organization, National Association for Geriatric Education, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Hispanic Nurses, National Association of Indian Nurses of America, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, National Black Nurses Association, National Immigration Forum, National League for Nursing, National Rural Health Association, National Skills Coalition, Pars Equality Center, Los Angeles, Philippine Nurses Association of America, Portland Refugee Support Group, Providence Public School, Restore Education, RUSA LGBTQ, Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning, Synergy Texas, Talent Beyond Boundaries, The International Medical Graduates Academy (TIMGA), The Welcoming Center, Tiyya Foundation, UnidosUS, Upwardly Global, US Together, Virginia Rural Health Association, Hospital and Healthcare Association, Welcome Back Initiative, Welcoming City, and World Education Services.

A full copy of the bill text is available here.