summary
Introduced
06/24/2014
06/24/2014
In Committee
07/21/2014
07/21/2014
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2015
01/03/2015
Introduced Session
113th Congress
Bill Summary
Doctors Helping Heroes Act of 2014 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 to make permanent the J-1 visa waiver program (Conrad state 30/medical services in underserved areas). Excludes from numerical immigration limitations alien physicians who have completed national interest waiver requirements by working in a health care shortage area (including alien physicians who completed such service before enactment of this Act and any of their spouses or children). Sets forth specified employment protections and contract requirements for alien physicians working in underserved areas. Increases the number of alien physicians that a state may be allocated from 30 to 35 per fiscal year in specified circumstances. Provides for additional increases or decreases based upon demand. Provides up to three visa waivers per fiscal year per state for physicians in academic medical centers. Permits dual intent for an alien coming to the United States to receive graduate medical education or training, or to take examinations required for graduate medical education or training. Exempts from specified entry limitations H-1B nonimmigrant aliens seeking to enter the United States to pursue graduate medical education or training. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize waiver of the two-year foreign residency requirement for an alien who has received graduate medical eduction or training in the United States and seeks to apply for an immigrant visa or permanent resident status if: the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) determines that VA facilities are not capable of furnishing covered health services to eligible veterans because they lack the required personnel or cannot provide timely and reasonable access; and the head of the appropriate state agency determines that the alien will practice medicine in a Veterans Health Administration facility, the alien physician's work is in the public interest, and such waiver would not cause the number of waivers allotted for that state for that fiscal year to exceed five.
AI Summary
This bill, the Doctors Helping Heroes Act of 2014, aims to encourage physicians to work in underserved areas by making permanent the J-1 visa waiver program, also known as the Conrad 30 program, which allows foreign doctors to stay in the U.S. if they serve in areas with healthcare shortages. It also exempts these physicians, their spouses, and children from numerical immigration limits, provides them with employment protections and contract requirements, and increases the number of waivers a state can receive annually from 30 to 35, with potential for further adjustments based on demand, and allows for up to three waivers per state for physicians in academic medical centers. The bill also permits "dual intent" for physicians pursuing graduate medical education or training, meaning they can intend to stay in the U.S. permanently while in this status, and exempts them from certain entry limitations. Additionally, it allows for waivers of the two-year foreign residency requirement for physicians who have completed their U.S. medical training and wish to become permanent residents if the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) certifies a need for their services due to staffing shortages or access issues, and a state agency confirms the physician will work in a VA facility and their service is in the public interest, with a limit of five such waivers per state annually.
Committee Categories
Justice, Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (6)
Ami Bera (D)*,
Suzan DelBene (D),
Pete Gallego (D),
Mark Meadows (R),
Grace Meng (D),
Kyrsten Sinema (I),
Last Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. (on 07/21/2014)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4951/all-info | 06/25/2014 |
| BillText | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr4951ih/pdf/BILLS-113hr4951ih.pdf | 07/02/2014 |
| Bill | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr4951ih/pdf/BILLS-113hr4951ih.pdf.pdf | 07/02/2014 |
Loading...