Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to be introducing the Title VII Health Care Workforce Act of 2019 with Senator Enzi. This critical legislation would reauthorize funding for the Title VII health professions programs to help strengthen the distribution, quality, and diversity of the health professions workforce so it is better prepared to meet the Nation's evolving and emerging health care needs.

The Title VII health professions programs have a longstanding history of increasing the supply of primary care professionals, expanding access to care in rural and urban underserved areas, and developing a workforce that reflects the nation's diversity and the needs of patients. At a time when the Country is facing health provider shortages, it is critical that we continue to support the programs that advance our health care workforce, such as: scholarships for disadvantaged students, public health and preventive medicine, geriatrics training, area health education centers, oral health training, and primary care medicine.

These education and training programs guide current and aspiring health professionals to high-demand careers in areas of greatest need, and this legislation will take an important step in ensuring that these programs can continue to serve students and patients for years to come. I look forward to working with stakeholders supporting these efforts, including the American Association of Medical Colleges, as well as my colleague, Senator Enzi, to pass the Title VII Health Care Workforce Act of 2019, in addition to the bipartisan Investment in Tomorrow's Pediatric Health Care Workforce Act I introduced with Senator Cassidy, as these bills proceed though the legislative process.

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