National Nursing Workforce Center Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4407
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-15: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-09T16:05:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The National Nursing Workforce Center Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the nursing profession in the United States by supporting and stabilizing the current nursing workforce, creating programs to grow the number of nurses, and improving data collection and planning to address shortages. It focuses on establishing state-level centers to analyze nursing needs and develop solutions, particularly in response to challenges like retention, recruitment, and education capacity.
Key Provisions
- Pilot Program for State Nursing Workforce Centers (Section 2):
- Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to run a 2-year pilot program starting within one year of enactment to create or expand state-based nursing workforce centers.
- Provides grants for up to 2 years to eligible entities, including state agencies, nursing boards, tax-exempt nonprofits, community organizations, nursing schools, or other approved educational programs.
- Requires a matching contribution from recipients: at least $1 in non-federal funds (cash or in-kind) for every $4 in federal funds.
- Ensures equitable geographic distribution of grants across U.S. regions.
- Gives priority to applicants offering statewide services, with expertise in local nursing issues, a track record of collaboration, and partnerships with nursing educators and employers.
- Permitted uses of funds include:
- Analyzing state nursing data gaps, education programs (e.g., faculty pay, enrollment, clinical placements), financial aid, and factors causing nurses to leave the profession.
- Planning workforce strategies with employers and educators.
- Researching nursing shortages, including impacts of temporary (contract) nursing.
- Implementing programs to retain faculty and nurses, develop leadership, address health inequities and social factors affecting health, prepare for public health crises, and provide career counseling or mentoring for entering or advancing in nursing.
- Requires annual reports to Congress starting one year after the first grant, covering initiatives, demographic data on served nurses, public-private partnerships, evaluations, and recommendations for reducing shortages in specialties, rural areas, and underserved regions.
- Allocates up to $1.5 million from existing Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
- Expansion of Health Workforce Analysis Centers (Section 3):
- Broadens existing grants under Section 761 of the Public Health Service Act to include programs across the entire Act (not just Title VII).
- Mandates at least one grant or contract to an entity focused on nursing workforce support, with expertise in data analysis, state guidance, and emerging trends.
- Allows funded activities to include collaboration on reports, publications, and policy briefs about nurse supply, demand, and education; evaluating workforce centers; developing strategies to ease shortages; and rapid research on specific issues.
- Provides technical assistance such as data standardization training, shortage alleviation strategies, online/in-person workshops, and a dedicated website with resources (e.g., educational materials, webinars) accessible to grantees and the public.
- Defines "nursing workforce center" as those funded under the new pilot program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Inserts a new Part G (Nursing Workforce Centers) into Title VII of the Public Health Service Act, shifting the former Part G to Part H.
- Expands the scope of Section 761 grants from Title VII programs to all programs under the Public Health Service Act, enabling broader health workforce analysis.
- Introduces nursing-specific requirements for at least one grant under Section 761, including dedicated analysis, reporting, and technical assistance focused on nursing, which were not previously mandated.
- Adds new reporting obligations to Congress on nursing workforce initiatives, emphasizing data-driven recommendations for shortage reduction.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HHS and HRSA will gain new responsibilities for administering the pilot, providing technical assistance, and reporting to Congress, potentially increasing administrative workload but improving federal oversight of nursing shortages. This could lead to more coordinated national data on healthcare workforce needs.
- Citizens: Could benefit the public by addressing nursing shortages, leading to better access to care, especially in rural and underserved areas. Programs may help more people enter or stay in nursing, improving healthcare quality and response to crises like pandemics, while supporting education and retention efforts that indirectly lower healthcare costs.
- International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill is domestically focused on U.S. nursing workforce issues.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Nursing Professionals and Students: Benefit from retention programs, career mentoring, leadership development, and crisis preparation.
- Educational Institutions: Nursing schools and programs gain support for faculty retention, enrollment increases, and clinical training capacity.
- State and Local Entities: State agencies, nursing boards, and community organizations can apply for grants to lead workforce planning and data analysis.
- Employers and Healthcare Providers: Hospitals, clinics, and other settings involved in strategic planning and research on shortages, including contract nursing impacts.
- Federal Government: HHS/HRSA as administrators; Congress receives reports influencing future policy.
- Underserved Populations: Rural communities, low-income groups, and areas with health inequities may see improved nurse distribution and services addressing social health factors.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Amends the Public Health Service Act without creating new regulatory burdens; emphasizes voluntary grants and public-private partnerships, maintaining flexibility for states. The matching fund requirement ensures shared investment but could limit participation by resource-strapped entities.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Spending Clause to fund health programs; no apparent conflicts with federalism, as it supports state-led initiatives without overriding state authority.
- Political: Introduced with bipartisan sponsorship (Republicans and Democrats), signaling broad support for healthcare workforce stability amid ongoing nursing shortages post-COVID-19. The pilot nature allows testing before full implementation, potentially influencing future appropriations or expansions, but funding caps may limit scale without additional congressional action.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (11)
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-15: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-07-15: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- National Nursing Workforce Center Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-15 — PDF (11 pages)