The chances for passage of legislation that would reauthorize the Conrad State 20 program for J-1 physicians seeking waivers of the home residency requirement received a substantial boost this week. The US House of Representatives had previously passed a bill that would extend the program and expand it to allow states to sponsor 30 physicians instead of the current 20. The Senate counterpart bill has not moved mainly because a crowded floor schedule has made it difficult to get the bill considered for a full vote. A new strategy was agreed to that will now incorporate the State 30 language into the Department of Justice authorization legislation. This was a “must pass” bill since the failure to pass the bill will mean that the Department of Justice will not be able to function. The bill passed by a 400 to 4 vote on Thursday.
The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation soon, but the vote is being held up while the Senate argues over the structure of the new Department of Homeland Security. Nevertheless, the Justice Department reauthorization bill will likely pass by a wide margin in the very near future.
The reauthorization and expansion of the program was announced in a press release issued by Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback and Kansas Republican Congressman Jerry Moran. “The J-1 Visa program has been successful in bringing many doctors to communities and hospitals across Kansas, where health care is lacking,” Moran said. “Now reauthorized for the next four years, passage of this legislation will allow the opportunity to recruit and retain physicians to continue.” He continued, “The passage of this legislation reauthorizes the J-1 Visa Waiver program for the next four years.”
Moran noted that Kansas will now proceed with implementing a J-1 waiver program.
Though Congressman Moran’s press release indicates a four-year extension, a last minute change in the bill reduced the extension from four years to two years. Apparently, House Immigration Subcommittee Chairman George Gekas (R-PA) weighed in on the issue and demanded the reduction in the extension in exchange for supporting the bill.
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