Kent Conrad: “Today I join Senator Brownback in introducing important legislation aimed at ensuring that a piece of the puzzle…”

“Today I join Senator Brownback in introducing important legislation aimed at ensuring that a piece of the puzzle regarding adequate physician services in underserved communities is preserved. By all accounts, the Conrad State 20 J-1 Visa Waiver program has been a great success at bringing crucially-needed doctors to medically-underserved areas. It has served as a wonderful resource for my State and for other States across our Nation. The bill we are introducing today eliminates the program's sunset date, thereby making sure that this much-needed program remains available. I created the Conrad State 20 program in 1994 to deal with the reality that many areas of the country, especially rural communities, have a very difficult time recruiting American doctors. These health facilities have had no other choice but to turn to foreign medical graduates to fill their needs. J-1 visa waivers allow foreign physicians to practice in medically-underserved communities after their J-1 status has expired without first returning to their home countries. These waivers allow foreign physicians to receive nonimmigrant, H-1B status, temporary worker in specialty occupation, for 3 years. In order to receive the waiver, the physician must agree to serve the medically-underserved community for the full three years. If he or she fails to fulfill that commitment, the physician is subject to immediate deportation.”