Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8629 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8629 To strengthen recruitment, training, and retention of the health center workforce to improve access to care and health outcomes in rural and underserved communities, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 30, 2026 Mr. Ruiz (for himself and Mr. Bilirakis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To strengthen recruitment, training, and retention of the health center workforce to improve access to care and health outcomes in rural and underserved communities, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. IMPROVING RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF FEDERAL QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER STAFF. (a) Priority to FQHCs and Rural Health Clinics.--Section 333(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254f(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(4) In approving applications for assignment of members of the Corps, the Secretary shall, notwithstanding paragraph (3), give priority to applications with respect to health professional shortage areas that are Federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics, as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act.''. (b) Loan Repayment Program.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall a