Public Health Nursing Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3604
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-04T15:21:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Public Health Nursing Act (S. 3604) aims to strengthen the public health nursing workforce in the United States by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to fund and support the recruitment, training, and retention of nurses focused on preventive care, especially in underserved communities. This legislation seeks to improve health outcomes related to chronic diseases, maternal and infant health, and infectious diseases through expanded public health services.
Key Provisions
- Grants to Public Health Departments: HHS must award grants to state, local, and territorial public health departments to build a public health nursing workforce. These grants can also support subgrants to local health departments.
- Authorized Uses of Funds:
- Recruiting, hiring, and training licensed registered nurses (RNs) to serve as public health nurses, particularly in medically underserved areas, public health facilities (e.g., mobile clinics, hospitals), or through home visits. This includes covering wages, benefits, and training costs.
- Purchasing medical supplies, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), needed for these nursing activities.
- Covering administrative costs related to the grant program.
- Grant Priorities: Preference is given to applicants serving:
- Populations with high rates of chronic diseases, infant mortality, or maternal health issues.
- Low-income or medically underserved groups (areas lacking sufficient healthcare providers).
- Health professional shortage areas or maternity care target areas.
- Rural or traditionally underserved populations.
- Programs that provide services in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways.
- Entities with labor agreements protecting workers' rights (under the National Labor Relations Act) or policies supporting employee organizing rights.
- Maintenance of Effort Requirement: Grant recipients must maintain their non-federal spending on these activities at least at pre-grant levels to ensure sustained investment.
- Definition of Public Health Nurse: A licensed nurse who delivers healthcare services and education on preventive health, nutrition, infectious diseases, chronic disease management, and maternal/infant care to enhance health outcomes.
- Funding Authorization: $5 billion is authorized annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2035 to implement the program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Part E of Title VII of the Public Health Service Act (which deals with health workforce development) by adding a new Subpart 4 specifically dedicated to public health nursing. It introduces a dedicated grant program for public health nurses, which did not previously exist in this form, expanding federal support beyond general nursing or health professional training initiatives. It also incorporates new priorities for equity (e.g., cultural appropriateness and labor protections) and a substantial long-term funding commitment not previously outlined for this workforce segment.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS will gain new responsibilities for administering grants, prioritizing underserved areas, and overseeing compliance, potentially increasing administrative workload but also enhancing coordination with state and local health departments.
- On Citizens: Underserved populations, including low-income, rural, and minority communities, could benefit from improved access to preventive care, chronic disease management, and maternal health services, potentially reducing health disparities and improving outcomes like infant mortality rates. Public health nurses may expand services in high-need areas, such as home visits and mobile clinics.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. public health infrastructure.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal and State/Local Agencies: HHS (as the lead implementer), state/territorial/local public health departments (grant recipients and service providers).
- Healthcare Workforce: Licensed registered nurses aspiring to or working in public health roles, including recruitment and training opportunities.
- Communities and Populations: Medically underserved, low-income, rural, and high-risk groups (e.g., those facing chronic diseases or maternal health challenges), who stand to gain from expanded nursing services.
- Labor Organizations: Unions representing healthcare workers, due to priorities favoring entities with collective bargaining agreements.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill leverages the federal government's spending power under the Constitution to fund state and local programs, with built-in accountability measures like maintenance of effort requirements to prevent misuse of funds. It references existing definitions (e.g., medically underserved areas under Section 330(b) of the Public Health Service Act) for consistency with prior laws.
- Constitutional Implications: Aligns with Congress's authority to promote general welfare through health initiatives; the labor priority provision supports workers' rights under federal labor law without mandating unionization.
- Political Implications: Addresses health equity and workforce shortages post-pandemic, potentially appealing across party lines by focusing on preventive care and rural access. The $50 billion total authorization (over 10 years) represents a significant federal investment, which could spark debates on budget priorities and long-term fiscal sustainability.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2026-01-08: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Public Health Nursing Act — issued 2026-01-08 — PDF (5 pages)