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Crow Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Establish the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program

April 22, 2020

Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) alongside Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Ranking Member Michael Burgess (R-TX-26) introduced the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Act, H.R. 6578, to establish the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program to promote the recruitment of public health professionals at local, state, and tribal public health agencies. The bill would also appropriate $100 million for FY 2020 and $75 million for FY 2021 - 2025 for the program. The idea for the bill was proposed by Dr. John Douglas, Executive Director of Tri-County Health Department in Colorado, who has recently joined Crow for telephone town halls on the coronavirus.

To be eligible for the program, individuals must be in their final year of pursuing a public health or health professions degree or certificate or have graduated within the past 10 years and go on to work for a local, state, or tribal public health agency. The bill also stipulates that individuals accepted into the program must sign a service commitment for at least three years.

"I know there is no shortage of individuals in this country who are looking to serve. For many, the coronavirus has helped spurred the next generation of healthcare leaders and shown just how important it is that we support these essential workers. This bill helps provide the infrastructure to grow our public health workforce and ensure America's readiness for future pandemics or public health crises," said Congressman Crow. "This is a commonsense incentive that will help ensure our public health workforce is growing and that public health departments can recruit and retain the talent they need to succeed."

"The nation is fighting to defeat this coronavirus, and we need to ensure that our public health workforce has the support it needs on the front lines," said Congressman Burgess. "By reauthorizing the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program, we are providing vital resources to grow and strengthen our public health workforce at the local, state, and tribal levels. These public health officials are on the ground testing individuals for COVID-19, conducting robust contact tracing, and contributing endless hours to protecting the health of our communities. This bill will enable these public health departments to enhance their workforce, thereby improving our nation's overall preparedness and response capabilities. I hope my other members of Congress will join me in supporting this legislation."

"For many students, it isn't economically feasible for them to enter into public service, especially given the high cost of many health care and medical programs. I'm grateful to Congressman Crow for pursuing this idea and making it into a reality," said Dr. John Douglas, Executive Director of Tri-County Health Department. "Not only will it help encourage the next generation of public health leaders, but we can better increase our nation's preparedness for problems such as the current coronavirus pandemic."

"Health department staff are on the front lines of the coronavirus response, with no end in sight. And they are doing so despite workforce cuts and tight budgets that make it difficult to recruit and retain the key talent needed to keep our communities healthy and safe. A federal Public Health Loan Repayment program is an important investment in strengthening the health department workforce across the country. We thank Representatives Crow and Burgess for taking this important first step to set up a system to help recruit and retain talented professionals to these critical jobs to support the coronavirus response and to strengthen health department capacity in the years to come, said Lori Tremmel Freeman, MBA, CEO, National Association of County and City Health Officials.

Click here to read bill text.

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