Rep. Smith and Rep. Krishnamoothi Introduce Legislation to Help Immigrants Enter the Health Care Workforce

October 2, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 1, 2026) – Today, Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) introduced the Immigrants in Nursing and Allied Health Act and the Internationally Trained Physicians Assistance Act , two bills to help immigrants enter the U.S. health care workforce and address the nation's growing shortage of health care providers. A 2022 study by the Migration Policy Institute found that 2.1 million college-educated immigrants are unemployed or underemployed, even as sectors like health care face mounting workforce shortages — including a projected shortfall of up to 48,000 primary care physicians by 2034, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. “We have thousands of skilled nurses, doctors, and health professionals in this country whose training and expertise are going to waste because their professional expertise is not recognized and they face numerous barriers to achieve the needed licensure. At the same time, our health care system is stretched thin and patients are waiting longer for care,” said Congressman Adam Smith . “This bill package helps immigrants put their skills to work and serve their communities and will rebuild the health care system.” “Skilled doctors, nurses, and other health professionals should have the opportunity to put their training and expertise to work caring for patients,” said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. “Our legislation would help qualified immigrants overcome unnecessary barriers to entering the health care workforce while helping communities address critical provider shortages. When we make better use of the talent already in our communities, we strengthen our health care system and expand access to care.” Statements of Support “Across the U.S., communities face critical health workforce shortages, yet immigrant and refugee health professionals—who possess in-demand skills—remain underemployed. Communities need this talent, and recognizing it is an essential step.  By streamlining licensure and addressing unnecessary barriers, we can meet urgent labor needs and improve access to quality care. We support efforts, including at the state and federal levels, to advance policies that promote community prosperity by ensuring that immigrants can fully contribute their training and skills to their local economy.” - Kit Taintor, Head of US Policy and Practice, World Education Services (WES) “We are proud to support these bills, which will expand opportunities for immigrant professionals while helping address critical workforce shortages in the healthcare sector," said Alice Kang, President of Upwardly Global . "With demand for healthcare workers rising nationwide, we should be creating pathways that allow qualified immigrants and refugees to contribute their expertise. This legislation will strengthen our healthcare system, bolster the economy and support safer, more resilient communities. Upwardly Global will continue to stand with Rep. Smith in moving this work forward.” "Many members of our team hold advanced education and expertise in medicine, nursing, and behavioral health. Yet they are unable to practice here due to costly additional education requirements and complex licensing procedures. At a time when we are confronted with a significant healthcare provider shortage—and as we work to diversify the healthcare workforce—it is critical to consider policies that create pathways for these highly skilled professionals to contribute to patient care,” said Tamara Cyhan Cunitz, MN, RN, Executive Director, Nashi Immigrants Health Board. “These bills introduced by Rep. Smith would expand opportunities for immigrant healthcare professionals to serve patients in our community and region. These measures would not only strengthen our workforce with qualified providers but also enable community members to receive care from clinicians who understand their language and cultural background.” Background The Immigrants in Nursing and Allied Health Act would help immigrants, regardless of previous health care experience, enter the nursing and allied health workforce by: Creating grants for programs that provide training, licensing, certification, and case management for immigrants interested in entering the health care field; and Opening eligibility for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) to non-U.S.-citizen immigrants. An estimated 200,000 nurses per year will need to be hired to meet increased demand and replace retiring nurses. This bill supports immigrants entering nursing or an allied health profession, including dental hygienists, dietitians, medical technologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and speech language pathologists. A fact sheet about the Immigrants in Nursing and Allied Health Act can be found here . The bill text can be found here . The Internationally Trained Physicians Assistance Act would help internationally trained physicians (ITPs) obtain a U.S. medical license by: Incentivizing states to create temporary licensing programs allowing internationally educated immigrants with medical degrees to practice under supervision while completing the training and certification needed for a U.S. medical license; Establishing guaranteed medical residency slots for ITPs to practice in predominantly medically underserved communities; and Providing grants to help cover the cost of exam preparation, testing, certification, ESL classes, and case management for ITPs in need of financial assistance. Apart from Canada, internationally trained physicians cannot immediately apply to sit for the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), and the cost of licensing, test preparation, and certification often puts a U.S. medical license out of reach, even for highly trained professionals. Many states have created alternative licensure pathways, but more must be done at the federal level to support these reforms nationwide to expand high-quality health care access. A fact sheet about the Internationally Trained Physicians Assistance Act can be found here . The bill text can be found here . Endorsements: International Medical Graduates Academy (TIMGA), Nashi Immigrants Health Board, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Sea Mar Community Health Center, Seattle Indian Health Board, Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning, Talent Beyond Boundaries, Upwardly Global, World Education Services (WES) ### Issues : America's Workers Health Care Immigration Reform Local Economy and Business