John Conyers: “the Nursing Relief Act addresses the pressing need for nurses at low-income, inner-city hospitals and moves firmly in…”

“the Nursing Relief Act addresses the pressing need for nurses at low-income, inner-city hospitals and moves firmly in the direction of developing a new, more permanent solution to this problem that will utilize nurses from the American workforce instead of continuing to rely on foreign labor. The Nursing Relief Act would allow up to 500 fully qualified foreign nurses to enter the United States each fiscal year to work for three-year periods. This, however, would not be an ongoing program. The act would sunset in four years. H.R. 2759 also provides that the Attorney General determine whether hospitals are taking reasonable steps to recruit and retain nurses from within the American workforce. In addition, the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services would be required to conduct a study to establish ways for these hospitals to fulfill their staffing needs from within the American workforce. More specific information about the bill may be found in a summary attached to this statement. The bill also includes a provision that would create an abbreviated certification process for nurses who meet specific qualifications standards. Without certification, nurses are denied admission to the United States as uncertified foreign health-care workers under section 212(a)(5)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. I urge the Members to join me in voting for this balanced, common sense bill.”