Earlier today the House Committee on Energy & Commerce passed H.R. 2781, the Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness (EMPOWER) for Health Act of 2019 by voice vote. The bill, which reauthorizes the Title VII HRSA health professions workforce programs, also included language from the Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act that was adopted as an amendment at last week’s markup in the Committee’s Health Subcommittee. That language authorizes funding for a new grant program to increase educational opportunities in the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, and speech-language pathology. ASAHP applauds the work of the Committee in passing this legislation, particularly Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Ranking Member Greg Walden, Reps. Janice Shakowsky and Michael Burgess for their work on Title VII reauthorization, and Reps. Bobby Rush and Cathy McMorris Rodgers for their work on the Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act.
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