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Creates a new HHS competitive grant program to fund five-year, career-pathway training projects that prepare low-income people (family income ≤200% of the federal poverty level) for allied-health and other health-care careers. Grants will fund training, support services (child care, transportation, case management, legal help for certain demos), stipends/emergency aid, and evaluation; the program is effective October 1, 2025 and is funded at $435 million per year for FY2026–2030 with specific set-asides for tribes, territories, demonstrations, technical assistance, evaluation, and a civil-service administration supplement. Applicants must meet eligibility and application requirements, consult state/local workforce boards, and may apply for special demonstration streams (individuals with arrest/conviction records and maternal-mortality career pathways for doulas/midwives in states that recognize/pay them). The Secretary must run competitions, provide application preferences and minimum award guarantees (including state, tribal, and territorial minimums), require reporting and rigorous evaluations, and provide technical assistance to grantees.
The bill directs substantial federal funding (~$435M/year) to expand health workforce training and wraparound supports—particularly for low-income, tribal, and maternal-care initiatives—while narrowing eligibility, adding administrative requirements, and increasing federal outlays that could crowd out other priorities.
Low-income individuals (≤200% FPL) gain access to funded career-pathway training and supports to enter allied health and other in-demand health occupations.
Parents, families, and other trainees receive guaranteed wraparound supports (child care, transportation, case management, stipends, emergency funds) that reduce barriers to completing training.
People seeking maternal care—especially in underserved communities—may see improved access and outcomes because the program supports expansion and payment recognition for doulas and midwives in participating states.
All taxpayers / the federal budget: the program costs roughly $435 million per year, increasing federal outlays and potentially crowding out other spending priorities.
Middle-income individuals (above 200% FPL) are excluded from eligibility, leaving some people who still face barriers to training and workforce entry without support.
Preference rules (prior grantees, partnership requirements, rural focus, stipend commitments) could advantage established providers and make it harder for small or new community organizations to compete for grants.
Introduced September 16, 2025 by Danny K. Davis · Last progress September 16, 2025