US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi and Congressman Adam Smith have introduced two bills aimed at aiding immigrant healthcare workers. These bills—the Immigrants in Nursing and Allied Health Act and the Internationally Trained Physicians Assistance Act—seek to address licensing barriers faced by internationally trained medical professionals, enabling them to join the US workforce more easily. The proposed measures include grants for training and certification programs and temporary licensing options for foreign-trained doctors while they complete necessary requirements for a US license.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Indian-origin US lawmaker, and Adam Smith have introduced two new bills aimed at supporting immigrant healthcare professionals. The bills, named The Immigrants in Nursing and Allied Health Act and The Internationally Trained Physicians Assistance Act, are designed to help immigrants who have trained as doctors or nurses outside the United States overcome licensing barriers and join the US healthcare workforce. Congressman Smith highlighted that thousands of qualified health workers face difficulties getting licensed despite their expertise, contributing to ongoing shortages in medical staffing. The proposed legislation would provide grants for training programs to assist these professionals with certification and licensing requirements, thereby addressing a critical need within the healthcare sector.
Written for “Immigrant Healthcare Bills Introduced” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Indian-origin US lawmaker
Raja Krishnamoorthi, along with Congressman Adam Smith, has introduced two bills aimed at helping immigrant and internationally trained healthcare professionals overcome licensing and training barriers and join the US healthcare workforce amid rising shortages of medical workers.
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professionals → introduce → workers
The Immigrants in Nursing and Allied Health Act and the Internationally Trained Physicians Assistance Act, introduced by Democratic Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Adam Smith, would provide support for training, licensing and certification for immigrants seeking healthcare careers, including doctors trained outside the US.
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Act → train → US
Smith said thousands of qualified healthcare professionals are unable to use their skills in the US because of licensing barriers, even as patients face longer waits for care.
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patients → say → care
“We have thousands of skilled nurses, doctors, and health professionals in this country whose training and expertise are going to waste because their professional expertise is not recognized and they face numerous barriers to achieving the needed licensure,” Smith said.
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Smith → have → licensure
What the bills propose
The Immigrants in Nursing and Allied Health Act would create grants for programmes offering training, licensing, certification and case management to immigrants seeking healthcare careers.
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Act → propose → careers
It would also expand eligibility for the National Health Service Corps to immigrants who are not US citizens.
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who → expand → immigrants
The legislation covers several healthcare professions, including nursing, dental hygiene, dietetics, medical technology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy and speech-language pathology.
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legislation → cover → nursing
The statement said about 200,000 nurses would need to be hired each year to meet growing demand and replace retiring workers.
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nurses → say → workers
The second bill, the Internationally Trained Physicians Assistance Act, would encourage states to create temporary licensing programmes allowing foreign-trained doctors to work under supervision while completing requirements for a US medical licence.
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doctors → encourage → licence
It would also establish guaranteed residency positions for internationally trained physicians serving mainly medically underserved communities.
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It → establish → communities
Grants under the proposal would help eligible doctors with financial need cover costs related to exam preparation, testing, certification, English-language classes and case management.
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doctors → help → preparation
Why US lawmakers are pushing the bills
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lawmakers → push → bills
The lawmakers cited both healthcare workforce shortages and the underemployment of highly educated immigrants.
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lawmakers → cite → immigrants
A 2022 Migration Policy Institute study cited in the statement found that 2.1 million college-educated immigrants were unemployed or underemployed.
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immigrants → cite → statement
The Association of American Medical Colleges has projected a shortage of up to 48,000 primary care physicians by 2034.
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Association → project → 2034
Krishnamoorthi said the proposals would help qualified immigrants overcome barriers while allowing communities to make better use of skilled professionals already living in the US.
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communities → say → US
The legislation has been endorsed by several organisations, including the International Medical Graduates Academy, Nashi Immigrants Health Board, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Sea Mar Community Health Center, Seattle Indian Health Board, Upwardly Global and World Education Services.
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legislation → endorse → Academy
The Aporia
