Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act of 2026

This bill changes the Public Health Service Act to create a federal Nurse Faculty Demonstration Program. Under the program, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would give grants to schools of nursing to add to the salaries of newly hired or prospective nursing faculty members. Each yearly grant, for up to 3 years, would cover the gap between the average salary of nurses in clinical practice and the faculty member's salary. Schools must keep the faculty member's pay at least at the set level, and priority goes to schools with the greatest need, those serving shortage areas, and those recruiting faculty from underrepresented groups. The bill authorizes $15 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and requires a report to Congress within 3 years.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Suzanne Bonamici Democrat sponsor
• 7 cosponsors