Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB665

Introduced
3/6/23  

Caption

Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act

Impact

If enacted, SB665 would significantly impact the current immigration laws governing healthcare professionals. It would extend the period for which state agencies can recommend waivers, allowing for greater flexibility in hiring physicians who have completed their residency training. The bill aims to mitigate the bottlenecks in healthcare access experienced by rural areas and incentivize physicians to stay in these critical positions, thereby improving overall healthcare delivery systems in underserved regions. It also emphasizes the need for federal support and coordination among state agencies to effectively utilize the Conrad program.

Summary

SB665, known as the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act, aims to address the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in rural and medically underserved communities by providing incentives for physicians to practice in these areas. The bill extends the Conrad State 30 program, allowing states to recommend J-1 visa waivers for foreign medical graduates who agree to work in shortage areas, thereby enhancing the ability of these communities to retain qualified healthcare providers. The bill's provisions are designed to facilitate the immigration process for physicians, making it easier for them to work legally in the United States while ensuring that underserved populations receive much-needed medical care.

Contention

There are notable points of contention associated with SB665, particularly regarding the balance between federal immigration policy and state control. Some stakeholders argue that the bill could lead to an overreliance on foreign medical graduates due to insufficient incentives for local training and recruitment. Additionally, the extension of the waiver program raises questions about whether it adequately addresses the root causes of physician shortages, including working conditions and compensation disparities. Advocacy groups and lawmakers are debating the long-term implications of the proposed changes on the healthcare workforce and local hospitals' operational dynamics.

Companion Bills

US HB4942

Same As Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act

Similar Bills

US HB4942

Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act

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Break the Chain Act This bill makes various changes related to family-sponsored immigration, such as narrowing the definition of what constitutes an immediate relative and lowering the annual numerical cap on certain classes of family-sponsored visas. A non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) who is a parent of a U.S. citizen shall not qualify for a visa for immediate relatives, which is not subject to any direct numerical limits. Currently, the spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of citizens are considered immediate relatives. The bill also reduces the baseline annual cap for family-sponsored visas from 480,000 to 87,934, and revises the methods for calculating the cap. Currently, the 480,000 cap may be adjusted depending on various factors but shall not be less than 226,000. A spouse or child of a sponsoring lawful permanent resident (also known as a green card holder) shall be subject to the family-sponsored visa cap. The bill revises the rules for determining whether a non-U.S. national is a child for the purposes of family-sponsored immigration, and establishes that an individual who is married or turns 25 years old prior to a visa becoming available for issuance shall not qualify as a child. The bill creates a nonimmigrant classification for non-U.S. national parents of adult U.S. citizens, which authorizes such parents for admission into the United States for an initial five-year period. Such parents shall not be authorized for employment or to receive any public benefits.

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