12. House Judiciary Committee Advances H-1C Nurse Bill

The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee has approved HR 1933, a bill that would reauthorize the H-1C visa program that expired in December 2009. The H-1C visa is available to nurses being employed by hospitals in medical shortage areas. HR 1933 was sponsored by Lamar Smith, the Republican Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

According to Congressman Smith:

“A number of American hospitals have great difficulty attracting nurses.  These include hospitals that serve mostly poor patients in inner-city neighborhoods and some hospitals in rural areas. 

“For example, St. Bernard Hospital in Chicago is the only remaining hospital in an area of over 100,000 people and almost all of its patients live in poverty.  St. Bernard almost closed its doors in 1992, primarily because of its inability to attract registered nurses. 

“I introduced H.R. 1933 to help St. Bernard and other similar hospitals.  The bill reauthorizes the H-1C program for an additional three years.  Just as nurses ensure care for the sick, the H-1C program ensures continued care for patients in inner-city and rural communities.”

The bill must now advance to the House floor and a companion bill must also pass in the Senate. At that point, if the bills are identical, or the two Houses can agree on changes to make the bills identical, it would go to President Obama for signature.

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