Bills · HR 1127
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 1127Rural conditions and developmentHealth personnel
Rural America Health Corps Act
INTRO FEB 7· LAST ACTION FEB 7
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
3BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because many rural communities across the United States face severe shortages of healthcare professionals, making it hard for people living there to get essential medical services. If this bill becomes law, it would create a new way to encourage healthcare workers to practice in these underserved areas by offering substantial student loan relief. This could directly improve access to doctors, nurses, and other providers for millions of rural Americans.
Without this bill, rural areas would continue to struggle to attract and retain healthcare staff, potentially leading to longer wait times, increased travel for appointments, and poorer health outcomes for residents. By creating a specific program tailored to rural areas and offering a clear financial incentive, the bill aims to address a critical public health issue and test if this particular approach can effectively fill gaps in rural healthcare access.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Establishes a demonstration program called the "National Health Service Corps Rural Provider Loan Repayment Demonstration Program."
Creates a new, specific initiative aimed at increasing healthcare access in rural areas by offering loan repayment.
PROVISION 02
Allows individuals eligible for the existing National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, but not currently participating, to receive loan payments.
Expands the pool of potential recipients beyond the current program, targeting those who might not have taken advantage of the existing opportunity or are looking for a slightly different commitment.
PROVISION 03
Requires eligible individuals to commit to five years of full-time service in a rural health professional shortage area to receive payments, up to a maximum of $200,000.
Provides a clear service obligation and a substantial financial incentive directly tied to addressing rural healthcare shortages.
PROVISION 04
Authorizes $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to fund the program.
Provides the necessary funding framework for the program to operate for its initial five-year demonstration period.
PROVISION 05
Allows the Secretary of HHS to establish a "liquidated damages formula" for breaches, but clarifies that failing to complete the full five years isn't automatically a breach if the individual completed the years for which payments were made in good faith.
Offers more flexibility than typical loan repayment programs, potentially making the commitment less daunting for providers while still allowing for recourse in cases of non-compliance.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 3
R· Tennessee
YRS IN OFFICE
9
BILLS LED
31
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 66%
DEM 2 REP 1 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSFEB 7
Introduced in House
FEB 7
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 1127
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 7, 2025
Last actionFeb 7, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 7, 2025
House BillHR 1127Rural conditions and developmentHealth personnel
Rural America Health Corps Act
INTRODUCED FEB 7, 2025· LAST ACTION FEB 7, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
3
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
