The US Senate is close to completing action on S. 2674, a bill that would permanently extend the popular State 20 program which expired on June 1st. The Conrad 20 program allows state health departments to sponsor J-1 physicians with two-year home residency requirements to instead serve three-year work commitments in areas with shortages of physicians. The bill would also increase the number of physicians available to each state from 20 to 30. A similar bill has already passed the US House of Representatives by a wide margin. The key difference between the two bills is that the House version only extends the program by two years. 

The sudden end of the US Department of Agriculture's J waiver program sparked outrage among members of Congress representing rural states and communities and the physician bill has moved relatively easily through Congress in a year where Congress has not been willing to consider very many measures that are considered pro-immigrant. However, the waiver programs remain very popular because of the sheer desperation many communities have in trying to find physicians willing to serve them.  

The bill in the Senate appears to be stalled, however, by Senator Diane Feinstein, though the California Democrat, known for being a critic of many immigration measures, has not publicly explained her opposition. California recently instituted its own State 20 program in the wake of the USDA closure since the state has a large number of underserved communities. Despite Feinstein's opposition, the bill is considered to be very popular in the Senate and President Bush is expected to sign a bill if presented to him. 

The bill did receive a boost this week when the American Hospital Association issued a strong statement endorsing the bill and urging its prompt passage. Advocacy groups are urging people to contact their Senators to urge them to co-sponsor S. 2674. In particular, they are urging that people in Alabama contact Senator Sessions, people in California contact Senator Feinstein and people in Arizona contact Senator Kyl.