Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act of 2026

This bill would require the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services to set up a demonstration program giving grants to schools of nursing to raise the pay of eligible nursing faculty members. Each grant would cover, for up to 3 years, the gap between the average salary of nurses in clinical practice and the faculty member's salary or the school's average faculty salary, whichever is higher. Schools must use the full grant for salaries, keep the faculty member's base pay from dropping, and explain how they plan to keep paying the higher salary after the grant ends. The Secretary would give priority to schools with the greatest need, those serving vulnerable patients or shortage areas, and those recruiting faculty from underrepresented groups, and must report to Congress within 3 years. The bill authorizes $15 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Richard J. Durbin Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors