A bill backed by U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, to increase grant funding for nursing programs at community colleges has received the endorsement of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.
If passed, the Grants for Resources in Occupational and Workforce Training for Healthcare (GROWTH) Act would expand federal grant access under the Health Resources and Services Administration to include community colleges.
The legislation would also prioritize up to half of the total funds to community colleges or partnerships with community colleges.
“Rural communities like mine are facing a hollowing out of healthcare providers and critical workforce shortages. By supporting young people pursuing nursing careers in their own communities, we can expand access to care and provide opportunities for our next generation,” Gluesenkamp Perez said in a statement. “Our bipartisan GROWTH Act will level the playing field for community colleges by opening up access to federal grants for nursing bridge programs.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country will need more than 275,000 additional registered nurses in the next decade.
The legislation was introduced by Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Arizona.
“The national nursing workforce shortage is affecting health facilities across the United States and could lead to a lower standard of care,” Ciscomani said in a statement. “My legislation, the GROWTH Act, addresses this shortage by expanding eligibility and priority for nursing programs at community, Tribal, and junior colleges. As a graduate of Pima Community College, I know firsthand how critical these institutions are to our students and workforce, and I am proud to work to ensure these institutions receive the same opportunities as a four-year university.”
