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HR 9747

Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act

119th Congress Introduced by Raja Krishnamoorthi and 1 co-sponsor

Funds grants to help internationally educated health professionals enter, integrate, and advance in the U.S. health care workforce.

Introduced in House
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Bill Summary · HR 9747

Overview

Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act (HR 9747) would authorize grants to support the integration and advancement of internationally educated health care professionals into the U.S. health care workforce. The bill aims to address workforce shortages by pairing federal funding with partners in health care, education, and community organizations to provide both system-level and individual-level supports.

Main purpose and intent

  • To fund career support programs for internationally educated health care professionals (IEHPs) so they can enter, integrate into, and advance within the U.S. health care workforce.
  • To improve workforce capacity and address shortages, especially in underserved, rural, or gap-affected communities.

Key provisions and changes

  • Creation of new grant program (Section 779) under the Public Health Service Act (as an addition to Title VII, Subpart 3, Part E).
  • Eligible entities: a consortium of at least two partners, including hospitals/health systems, non-profit/public health organizations, institutions of higher education, area health education centers, state/local governments or Indian Tribes, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), or other Secretary-approved entities.
  • Grants authorized to be awarded:
    • Deadline: within one year of enactment.
    • Purpose: provide career support for IEHPs to integrate into and expand the health care workforce.
    • Consultation requirement: Secretary must consult with the Secretaries of Labor and Education before awarding grants.
  • Application requirements (for eligible entities):
    • Description of proposed projects.
    • Demonstrated capacity to administer projects.
    • Plans detailing population served, health workforce gaps, and how funds will identify and advance IEHPs in the target area.
    • Evidence of experience working with IEHPs and partnerships with higher education and health care employers.
  • Priorities for grants:
    • Focus on recruitment and retention of IEHPs in communities with gaps or in rural areas.
  • Use of funds:
    • System-level improvements (e.g., culturally and linguistically competent supports, mentoring, employer education, career ladder development, ongoing supportive services, leadership development, licensing/certification assistance).
    • Administrative costs: Up to 10% of a grant for administration.
    • Minimum direct support requirement: At least 20% of grant funds must be used for direct IEHP project activities.
    • Individual-level improvements (e.g., licensing process support, ESL and exam prep, career coaching, credentialing guidance, clinical experiences, rights education, living/transportation supports, and help with overseas records).
  • Supplement, not supplant:
    • Grants must supplement existing recruitment, training, and advancement funds for IEHPs in the served region.
  • Reporting and evaluation:
    • Annual reports by grant recipients detailing participant numbers, services used, employment outcomes, and demographic breakdowns.
    • Disaggregated data on country of education and outcomes (employment, retention, certification progress, withdrawals, etc.).
    • Secretary to submit an annual progress report to Congress for the duration of each project, starting two years after enactment and annually thereafter until all projects are completed.
  • Definitions:
    • IEHP: Professionals who completed education requirements abroad and who are lawfully admitted to live in the U.S (various authorized statuses).
    • Eligible entity: A multi-partner consortium meeting specified category criteria.
    • Health care workforce: Direct patient care providers and public health workers.
  • Authorizations:
    • New appropriations: Authorizes funding as needed for fiscal years 2027–2031.

Who would be affected

  • IEHPs seeking clinical licensure, credentialing, language and cultural support, and career development opportunities.
  • Eligible entities (hospitals, health systems, universities, FQHCs, non-profits, state/local governments, etc.) that would apply for and administer grants.
  • Employers and health care organizations involved in partnerships with IEHPs.
  • Communities with health care workforce shortages, especially rural areas.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral:
    • Introduced July 16, 2026; referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  • Implementation timeline:
    • Grants to be awarded within 1 year after enactment.
  • Reporting timeline:
    • Secretary must deliver annual Congress-facing progress reports beginning two years after enactment, continuing annually until all projects are completed.
  • Consultation:
    • Secretary must consult with the Secretaries of Labor and Education prior to grant awards.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Could expand the pipeline of IEHPs into U.S. health care settings, potentially improving patient access and diversity of the workforce.
  • Emphasizes system-level supports (mentoring, cultural competence, career ladders) alongside individual supports (licensing, exam prep, coaching).
  • Requires careful implementation to ensure accountability, effective use of funds, and measurable improvements in recruitment, retention, and credentialing outcomes.
  • Data collection and reporting provisions would enable monitoring of IEHP outcomes and program effectiveness.

Note: This summary reflects the bill text as introduced; committees may amend provisions during the legislative process.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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