H.R. 7279: Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act of 2026

This bill, titled the Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act of 2026, proposes measures to address the shortage of nursing faculty in the United States. Here are the main components of the bill:

Nurse Faculty Demonstration Program

The bill establishes a demonstration program under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services will provide grants to eligible nursing schools. The purpose of these grants is to help increase the number of qualified nursing faculty members by supplementing their salaries, thereby enhancing recruitment and retention efforts.

Eligible Entities

To qualify for a grant, nursing schools must:

• Be accredited and recognized as schools of nursing.
• Submit an application containing specific information, such as:
• The salary history of nursing faculty over the past three years, adjusted for inflation.
• The number of nursing faculty vacancies and future projections.
• A plan for sustainable funding after the grant period ends.

Grant Awards

Grants will be awarded to supplement the salaries of eligible nursing faculty members for up to three years. The amount of the grant will be based on the difference between:

• The average salary of nurses in clinical practice
• The greater of the average salary of nursing faculty at the school or the eligible nursing faculty member's salary.

Schools must maintain a certain salary level for faculty throughout the grant period to receive the funding.

Priority for Grants

When awarding grants, the Secretary will give priority to applications from schools that:

• Demonstrate the greatest need based on financial circumstances and faculty vacancies.
• Focus on serving vulnerable patient populations.
• Work towards recruiting and retaining faculty from underrepresented backgrounds.

Reporting and Evaluation

Within three years after the bill's enactment, the Secretary will produce a report evaluating the effectiveness of the program. This evaluation will include data on recruitment and retention rates of nursing faculty and recommendations for Congress regarding the program's future.

Funding Authorization

The bill authorizes $15 million for each fiscal year from 2027 to 2031 to support the program.

Definitions

The bill includes definitions for terms such as:

• Eligible nursing faculty member: A nursing faculty member who has been hired within the last two years, is currently employed at a nursing school, or has relevant clinical or faculty experience.
• Inflation: Defined as the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers.

Relevant Companies

None found.