Sponsors (15)
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Creates a new HRSA grant program to help nursing schools grow their student and faculty numbers, modernize training (including simulation and telehealth), and expand readiness for public health emergencies and pandemics. Grants must prioritize schools that serve medically underserved areas, health professional shortage areas, rural and noncontiguous States/territories, and certain institutions of higher education. Allows up to $1 billion to carry out the program (available until expended), requires annual reports from grant recipients, and directs a public report to Congress within five years describing recipients, enrollment/graduation outcomes (disaggregated by key demographics), effects on faculty and infrastructure, and recommendations for improvement. A final provision only updates a part heading without changing program rules or funding.
The bill channels substantial federal funding to expand and modernize nursing education—boosting workforce capacity, equity, and transparency—while increasing federal spending and creating administrative and distribution risks that could favor larger institutions and leave some underserved areas shortchanged.
Nursing students, faculty, and healthcare employers will get federal grants to expand faculty and student capacity and modernize clinical training (simulation, telehealth), increasing the supply of trained nurses and health system readiness.
Medically underserved, health professional shortage, rural, and minority-serving programs are prioritized for awards, directing training resources toward communities with the largest care gaps.
Programs that recruit and retain disadvantaged and underrepresented students and faculty will be prioritized, likely increasing diversity in the nursing workforce.
Authorizing $1 billion increases federal spending and could add to budgetary pressure or require offsets elsewhere.
Institutions with stronger grant-writing capacity may capture most awards, disadvantaging smaller or resource-constrained programs (including many rural and community programs).
Reporting and administrative requirements for grant recipients add compliance burdens that consume staff time and resources at schools and programs.
Introduced December 11, 2025 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress December 11, 2025