Doctors in our Borders Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1201

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-11: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-03-03T16:01:57Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Doctors in our Borders Act" (H.R. 1201) aims to expand access to foreign-trained physicians in underserved U.S. communities by increasing the annual limit on special immigration waivers. These waivers, known as Conrad 30 waivers, allow certain international medical graduates to bypass a requirement to return to their home country after training, enabling them to work in areas with doctor shortages.

Key Provisions

• Amendment to Immigration Law: The bill modifies Section 214(l)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which governs nonimmigrant visas.
• Increased Waiver Limit: It raises the maximum number of Conrad 30 waivers that states can recommend each fiscal year from 30 to 100 per state.
• Short Title: The legislation is officially named the "Doctors in our Borders Act."

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Under current law, each state is limited to recommending up to 30 waivers annually for J-1 visa holders (exchange visitors, often medical trainees) who commit to working at least three years in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) or medically underserved areas.
• The bill triples this cap to 100 waivers per state, without altering other eligibility rules, such as the requirement for physicians to work in designated underserved locations or obtain state health department endorsements.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Could improve healthcare access in rural, low-income, or shortage-prone areas by allowing more foreign physicians to fill critical roles, potentially reducing wait times and enhancing medical services for underserved populations.
• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and state health departments may see increased workload in processing and recommending waivers, but this could help address national physician shortages without new federal hiring.
• On International Relations: May encourage more international medical students and professionals to pursue U.S. training, fostering goodwill with countries that supply these physicians (e.g., India, Pakistan), though it does not directly affect broader visa policies.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Foreign-Trained Physicians: Gain expanded opportunities to stay and work in the U.S. after completing residency or fellowship programs.
• State Governments and Health Departments: Benefit from higher flexibility to address local healthcare needs but must manage additional administrative responsibilities.
• U.S. Healthcare Facilities and Patients: Hospitals, clinics, and residents in HPSAs stand to gain from a larger pool of doctors, particularly in primary care and specialties.
• U.S. Medical Community: Domestic physicians and training programs may face indirect competition, though the focus is on underserved areas.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The change is a straightforward statutory amendment with no apparent conflicts to existing INA frameworks or judicial precedents; it maintains congressional authority over immigration without requiring new regulations.
• Constitutional: No significant issues, as it aligns with Congress's plenary power over immigration and naturalization under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.
• Political: Bipartisan support (introduced by a mix of Republicans and Democrats) highlights a consensus on bolstering healthcare workforce amid ongoing debates on immigration reform; it could serve as a model for targeted visa expansions without broader border policy overhauls.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

Cosponsors (12)

Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2], Rep. Vindman, Eugene [D-VA-7], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-11: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-02-11: Introduced in House
• 2025-02-11: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Doctors in our Borders Act — issued 2025-02-11 — PDF (2 pages)