Sponsors (15)
The bill directs federal funds to expand and modernize nursing education—boosting workforce numbers, equity, training quality, and emergency preparedness—while increasing federal spending and creating administrative burdens and some redistribution of grants away from better-resourced institutions.
Hospitals and rural/underserved communities — more nursing graduates and stronger workforce capacity that can help reduce local staffing shortages.
Students from disadvantaged, underrepresented, rural, low-income, and first-generation backgrounds — expanded recruitment, retention, tuition, and mentorship support that improves access to nursing education.
Nursing schools and students — increased ability to hire and retain faculty (including greater racial/ethnic diversity among faculty), expanding training capacity and improving instruction.
Taxpayers/general federal budget — authorizes $1.0 billion in federal spending, increasing budgetary commitments and creating potential trade-offs with other programs.
Well-resourced/urban institutions — may receive fewer grants as the program prioritizes geographic equity and underserved areas, limiting some schools' expansion opportunities.
Grantee institutions (schools/universities) — new administrative and reporting burdens (e.g., annual reports) could divert staff time and resources away from education and clinical training.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a HRSA grant program funding nursing schools to expand students and faculty, modernize training, and boost public health emergency preparedness with $1 billion authorized.
Official title: Amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to support schools of nursing in increasing the number of nursing students and faculty and in program enhancement and infrastructure modernization, and for other purposes.
Introduced December 11, 2025 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress December 11, 2025
Creates a new HRSA grant program that gives schools of nursing funds to expand student and faculty capacity, modernize training infrastructure, strengthen clinical partnerships, and boost preparedness for public health emergencies. The bill prioritizes institutions serving underserved, rural, and shortage areas, requires annual grantee reporting and a 5-year public summary to Congress, and authorizes $1 billion to carry out the program.