S. 2673

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to improve the transition of medics into the civilian workforce in certain health care occupations and to modify the assistance provided to separated members of the Armed Forces seeking employment with health care providers, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · August 1, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Kelly · Committee: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

Table of contents

• S. 2673
  • 1153. Health Care Workforce Preparedness and Response Pilot Program.

1153. Health Care Workforce Preparedness and Response Pilot Program.

• (a) Grants
  • The Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible providers to support the hiring, training, and retention by such providers of members of the Armed Forces separating from the Armed Forces to improve access to, and enhance the quality of, civilian health care occupations by such members.
• (b) Duration
  • The duration of a grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of three years, with an option to renew for subsequent one-year periods until the earlier of—
    • two renewal periods; or
    • the date on which funds are no longer available for grants under this section.
• (c) Eligible providers
  • To be eligible for a grant under this section, an entity shall—
    • own or operate, or act as a consortium that includes—
      • a rural health clinic, as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (); 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)
      • a nursing home, as defined in section 232(b) of the National Housing Act (); 12 U.S.C. 1715w(b)
      • a medical facility, as defined in subsection (a) of section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (), located in a health professional shortage area designated under such section; 42 U.S.C. 254e(a)
      • a Federally qualified health center, as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (); or 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)
      • a health care facility, as defined in section 801 of the Public Health Service Act (); 42 U.S.C. 296
    • be a public or private nonprofit organization, as defined in of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and section 501(c)
    • be located in a medically underserved area, as designated pursuant to section 330(b)(3)(A) of the Public Health Service Act (). 42 U.S.C. 245b(b)(3)(a)
• (d) Use of funds
  • (1) In general
    • An eligible provider receiving a grant under this section shall use amounts received through the grant to implement a new program or enhance an existing program—
      • to assist in the hiring or retaining by an eligible provider of members of the Armed Forces separating or recently separated from service in the Armed Forces;
      • to assist such members who are transitioning to employment with an eligible provider, including—
        • (i) activities relating to the period of time the member is pursuing licensing, credentialing, or certification as required by the State, field of service of the eligible provider, or occupation of the member; and
        • (ii) providing specific training to meet Federal or State licensing or certification requirements; and
      • to coordinate or improve coordination with transition assistance programs operated by the Department of Defense to ensure appropriate transition by such members to civilian employment.
  • (2) Exception for activities eligible for educational assistance under title 38
    • In the case of training described in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), if such training is an eligible use of educational assistance received under subchapter II of of title 38 and the recipient of such training is eligible for the receipt of such educational assistance, the Secretary of Defense shall coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that payment for such training is made through the use of such educational assistance instead of through the use of grant amounts awarded under this section. chapter 33
• (e) Application
  • An eligible provider seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary of Defense an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—
    • a description of the project that the eligible provider will carry out using the amounts provided through the grant;
    • an explanation of the reasons why Federal Government assistance is required to carry out the project;
    • a plan for sustaining the project for which the grant was awarded after Federal Government assistance for the project has ended;
    • a description of how the population in the area or areas to be served through the grant will experience increased access to quality health care services across the continuum of care as a result of the activities carried out by the eligible provider; and
    • a description of such other priorities as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.
• (f) Allocation of grants to rural providers
  • The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that eligible providers located in rural areas are adequately represented in the total number of grants awarded under this section.
• (g) Maximum grant amount
  • The amount of a grant made under this section to a single grant recipient shall not exceed—
    • with respect to the initial three-year period, $600,000; and
    • with respect to any additional year, $200,000.
• (h) Reports
  • (1) Report to Secretary
    • An eligible provider awarded a grant under this section shall periodically submit to the Secretary of Defense a report evaluating the activities supported by the grant.
  • (2) Report to public
    • Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of the , and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress and make publicly available a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the success of the pilot program under this section in improving access by separating members of the Armed Forces to civilian health care occupations and enhancing the quality of those occupations.
• (i) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
    • The term eligible provider means a health care provider, as defined in section 3000 of the Public Health Service Act (). 42 U.S.C. 300jj
• (j) Authorization of appropriations
  • (1) In general
    • There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Defense $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section.
  • (2) Administrative costs
    • The Secretary of Defense may use not more than 10 percent of the amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal year for the administrative expenses of carrying out this section.