Pathways to Health Careers Act

Full Title:
To provide low-income individuals with opportunities to enter and follow a career pathway in the health professions, and for other purposes.

Summary#

This bill, called the Pathways to Health Careers Act, creates a federal grant program by amending section 2008 of the Social Security Act. The grants fund projects that train low-income people (those with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level) for health careers and career pathways. Eligible training areas include allied health, health information technology, physician assistants, nursing assistants, registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and other health career pathway jobs. Grants may also fund demonstration projects focused on (1) people with arrest or conviction records and (2) maternal health careers such as doulas and midwives in States that recognize those roles.

The program requires applicants to describe career pathway approaches, adult basic education, work readiness, case management, career coaching, support services (including child care and transportation plans), and post-employment support. Applicants must show experience with low-income populations or partner with organizations that do. Some projects must offer legal assistance for participants with arrest or conviction records. Projects must train participants to earn recognized postsecondary credentials and meet State training-hour requirements when applicable. Grant cycles run at least 5 years with up to 12 months for planning.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services will run the program, consult with the Secretaries of Labor and Education, provide technical assistance, evaluate demonstration projects, require data reporting from grantees, and report to Congress on participant outcomes and program effects. The bill specifies eligible entities that can apply (for example, workforce boards, States, tribes, colleges, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and opioid treatment programs). It also includes preferences for applicants with community partners, rural projects, stipend commitments, and emergency cash funds.

What it means for you#

  • If you are a low-income person (family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level), you could be eligible to receive training, support services (child care, transportation), stipends, and help to get credentials and jobs through local projects funded by the grants.
  • If you are an organization (workforce board, school, hospital, tribe, nonprofit, etc.), you can apply for grants to run training and support programs. Applications must meet the detailed requirements in the bill and show plans for services, partnerships, and reporting.
  • If you are in a State that recognizes doulas or midwives, projects may fund training for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum careers. Projects targeting people with arrest or conviction records must include legal help and plans to overcome credentialing or licensing barriers.
  • Grantees must collect and share data with the federal government about outcomes such as graduation, credential attainment, employment, and earnings.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes appropriations of $435,000,000 for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030.
  • Each year $10,000,000 of that amount is reserved to help employ or retain at least 25 career civil servants at the Administration for Children and Families to administer and evaluate the program.
  • Of the remaining funds each year: 75% is for competitive non-demonstration grants, 4% is reserved for grants for Indian populations, 5% is reserved for grants in territories, 6% is for demonstration project grants, another 6% (plus any unused amounts from the earlier allocations) is for technical assistance and related staffing, and 4% is for program evaluation, studies, reporting, and associated staffing.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.