Public Health Nursing Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6989
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-08: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-29T08:07:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Public Health Nursing Act (H.R. 6989) aims to strengthen the public health nursing workforce in the United States by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to fund and support programs that recruit, train, and retain nurses focused on preventive care, chronic disease management, and maternal/infant health. This addresses shortages in public health nursing, particularly in underserved areas, to improve overall community health outcomes.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Establishment: Adds a new section (Sec. 780) to Part E of Title VII of the Public Health Service Act, directing the HHS Secretary to award grants to state, local, and territorial public health departments for building a public health nursing workforce.
- Allowable Uses of Funds:
- Recruiting, hiring, and training licensed registered nurses as public health nurses, with an emphasis on employment in medically underserved areas (regions with limited access to healthcare providers), public health facilities (like mobile clinics or hospitals), or home visitation programs.
- Covering wages, benefits, medical supplies (including personal protective equipment), and administrative costs related to these activities.
- Recipients may issue subgrants to local health departments for the same purposes.
- Grant Priorities: HHS must prioritize applicants serving:
- Populations with high rates of chronic diseases (long-term illnesses like diabetes), infant mortality (death of babies under one year), or maternal morbidity/mortality (health complications or death related to pregnancy/childbirth).
- Low-income or medically underserved groups, health professional shortage areas (regions lacking sufficient doctors or nurses), maternity care target areas (specific zones needing more obstetric care), or rural/underserved communities.
- Programs that provide services in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways (tailored to the community's language and customs).
- Entities with collective bargaining agreements (formal labor contracts) with unions or policies supporting workers' rights under the National Labor Relations Act (a law protecting employees' rights to organize and bargain).
- Maintenance of Effort Requirement: Grant recipients must maintain their non-federal spending on these activities at least at pre-grant levels to ensure federal funds supplement, not replace, existing efforts.
- Definition of Public Health Nurse: A registered nurse who delivers healthcare services and education on preventive health, nutrition, infectious diseases, chronic disease management, and maternal/prenatal/postpartum care to enhance maternal and infant health.
- Funding Authorization: Authorizes $5 billion annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2035 to HHS for implementing this program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new subpart (Subpart 4) and dedicated section to the Public Health Service Act, which previously focused on broader health workforce development (e.g., for physicians and other professionals) but lacked specific provisions for public health nursing. It creates a targeted federal grant mechanism for nursing in public health settings, emphasizing preventive and community-based care, which was not explicitly outlined before. No existing programs are repealed or altered; this expands the Act's scope.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS will gain administrative responsibilities for grant oversight, evaluation, and distribution, potentially increasing workload but also enhancing coordination with state/local health departments. Public health departments could expand staffing and services, improving response to public health crises like disease outbreaks.
- On Citizens: Underserved populations, including low-income, rural, and minority communities, may benefit from better access to preventive care, chronic disease support, and maternal health services, potentially reducing health disparities and improving outcomes like lower infant mortality rates. However, impacts depend on grant uptake and effective implementation.
- On International Relations: No direct effects; the bill is domestically focused on U.S. public health infrastructure.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal and State/Local Agencies: HHS (as administrator), state/territorial/local public health departments (as primary grant recipients and service providers).
- Healthcare Workforce: Public health nurses and registered nurses, who gain recruitment, training, and job opportunities, especially in underserved areas.
- Communities and Populations: Low-income, rural, medically underserved, and high-risk groups (e.g., those facing chronic diseases or maternal health challenges), who stand to receive expanded services.
- Labor Organizations: Unions representing public health workers, favored through grant priorities for entities with bargaining agreements, potentially strengthening worker protections.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes enforceable grant conditions (e.g., priorities and maintenance of effort), which could lead to disputes over eligibility or compliance if not clearly defined in regulations. Relies on the Public Health Service Act's existing framework for workforce funding, avoiding new regulatory burdens but requiring HHS rulemaking for implementation details.
- Constitutional: Invokes Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, to allocate federal funds for public welfare, with conditions on recipients that must align with federalism principles (not overly coercing states). No apparent conflicts with free speech, equal protection, or other rights.
- Political: Signals a focus on health equity and workforce shortages, potentially bipartisan appeal in addressing post-pandemic needs, but the $50 billion total authorization (over 10 years) could spark debates on federal spending priorities amid budget constraints. Prioritizing union-friendly entities may influence labor policy discussions without mandating unionization.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
Cosponsors (14)
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-08: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-01-08: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Public Health Nursing Act — issued 2026-01-08 — PDF (5 pages)