Public Health and Bio-Preparedness Workforce Loan Repayment Reauthorization Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 4445

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-16: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-02-05T09:06:48Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation aims to extend federal support for a loan repayment program that encourages professionals to serve in public health and bio-preparedness roles, helping to build and maintain a skilled workforce for health security and emergency response.

Key Provisions

• Reauthorization Period: Updates the Public Health Service Act to authorize funding for the Public Health and Bio-Preparedness Workforce Loan Repayment Program through fiscal years 2026 to 2030.
• Program Focus: The program provides loan repayment incentives to eligible individuals who commit to working in public health or bio-preparedness positions, such as roles involving disease prevention, emergency response, or biological threat preparedness.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Extends the program's authorization from the previous period (fiscal years 2023 through 2025) to fiscal years 2026 through 2030, ensuring continued funding availability without altering the program's structure, eligibility, or operational details.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Strengthens the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and related agencies by retaining skilled personnel, potentially improving national readiness for public health crises like pandemics or bioterrorism.
• On Citizens: Enhances public health infrastructure, leading to better disease surveillance, vaccination efforts, and emergency preparedness, which could reduce health risks and improve community safety.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though a stronger domestic bio-preparedness workforce could indirectly support U.S. contributions to global health initiatives, such as those through the World Health Organization.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Public Health and Bio-Preparedness Professionals: Eligible workers (e.g., epidemiologists, lab technicians, or emergency responders) who can receive loan forgiveness in exchange for service commitments.
• Federal Government: Primarily HHS, which administers the program, and Congress, which oversees funding.
• Educational Institutions and Lenders: Indirectly affected through reduced student loan burdens for participants.
• State and Local Health Agencies: Benefit from a more stable workforce for implementing federal health programs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: A routine reauthorization that maintains the existing framework under the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 295f-1), with no new regulatory burdens or challenges to federal authority.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, to promote the general welfare through workforce incentives; no apparent conflicts with states' rights or individual liberties.
• Political: Bipartisan support evident from cosponsors across parties, signaling broad agreement on investing in health security post-COVID-19; could influence future budgets by committing funds through 2030 without mandating specific appropriations.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]

Cosponsors (12)

Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-16: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-07-16: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-16: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Public Health and Bio-Preparedness Workforce Loan Repayment Reauthorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-16 — PDF (2 pages)