S. 1874 · On the floor · Health

Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2026

Sponsor: Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

What it does

• Reauthorizes programs through FY2031 that provide grants to nursing schools to increase enrollment, including support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Reauthorizes student loan repayment and scholarship programs for nurses who work at facilities with critical nursing shortages and nursing faculty at accredited schools.
• Establishes temporary grants to nursing schools for supplementing faculty salaries for up to three years to support faculty recruitment and retention.
• Expands existing grants to include training on telehealth, virtual resources, and care for survivors of sexual assault.

Official summary

Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2026 This bill reauthorizes through FY2031, revises, and establishes programs that support recruitment, education, retention, and advanced practices of nurses and nursing school faculty. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes programs within the Health Resources and Services Administration that provide grants to support increased enrollment in nursing education (including for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds), advanced nursing education and specialized training, nurse retention, and enhanced patient care. The bill also reauthorizes programs that support student loan repayment and scholarships for nurses who agree to work at facilities with critical nursing shortages and nursing faculty who work at accredited schools of nursing. Also, the bill expands certain grants to include (1) training on the use of new technologies such as telehealth and virtual resources, and (2) care for survivors of sexual assault. Additionally, the bill temporarily establishes (1) grants to nursing schools for supplementing the salaries of eligible faculty for a period of up to three years to enhance faculty recruitment and retention, and (2)…

Latest action

Jul 28, 2026: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 527.

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions