Premier Supports Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act

Premier joined more than 50 organization in sending letters to the House and Senate in support of the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (H.R. 6205/S. 3211), which would initiate a one-time recapture of up to 40,000 unused employment-based visas – 25,000 for foreign-born nurses and 15,000 for foreign-born physicians. Introduced by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Kevin Cramer (D-ND) and Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Don Bacon (R-NE) and Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), the legislation would increase the number of highly trained nurses in the US healthcare system over the next three years by expediting the visa authorization process for qualified international nurses who are urgently needed but remain overseas due to backlogs and other bureaucratic delays despite many being approved to come to the US as lawful permanent residents. The legislation would also allow for thousands of international physicians who are currently working in the US on temporary visas with approved immigrant petitions to adjust their status.