H.R. 6788: The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act
On May 8, 2020, Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL), Tom Cole (R-OK), Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced a companion bill (H.R. 6788) which seeks to enhance the healthcare workforce during the COVID-19 global pandemic by recapturing 40,000 unused immigrant visas for foreign doctors (15,000) and nurses (25,000), as well as additional unused visas for their spouse and children. The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (S.3599) was introduced in the Senate on May 5, 2020 by Senators Perdue (R-GA), Young (R-IN), Cornyn (R-TX), Durbin (D-IL), Coons (D-DE), and Leahy (D-VT).
AILA welcomes the introduction of this bipartisan legislation which would help address critical shortages in our nation’s healthcare workforce during the COVID-19 global pandemic. AILA includes below the full bill text, as well as additional resources provided through press releases and news articles.
Join AILA in urging Congress to support this important legislation by emailing your legislators today and amplifying the bill on social media using the #ImmigrantHealthHeroes hashtag.
House Bill Resources
- AILA Press Statement: AILA Supports House Introduction of the “Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act” - May 8, 2020
- Press Release from Rep. Schneider: Reps. Schneider, Cole, Finkenauer, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Health Workforce Amid COVID-19 Pandemic - May 8, 2020
- AILA and IMGT Send Letter to DOS Recommending Actions to Facilitate the Services of International Medical Graduates During the COVID-19 Outbreak
- Resource Center: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Senate Bill Resources
- S. 3599: The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act
- Summary of Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act
- Section-by-Section of Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act
- AILA Press Statement: AILA Supports the “Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act” - April 30, 2020
- Press Release from Sen. Perdue: Perdue, Durbin, Young, Coons to Introduce Bipartisan Bill Addressing Shortage of Doctors, Nurses – April 30, 2020
- Press Release from Sen. Durbin: Durbin, Perdue, Young, Coons to Introduce Bipartisan Bill Addressing Shortage of Doctors, Nurses – April 30, 2020