Legislation1w ago
42
A bill to appoint a Geothermal Ombudsman and establish a Geothermal Permitting Task Force from within the Bureau of Land Management, and for other purposes.
S4383Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (D-NV)
introduced
S709119th CongressWALLET
Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act
Sponsored By: Senator Amy Klobuchar
Introduced
Summary
Would extend and modernize the Conrad State 30 J-1 visa waiver to keep more foreign physicians working in rural and medically underserved areas. It would expand waiver capacity, strengthen worker protections, and make it easier for doctors and their families to train and stay in shortage areas.
Show full summary
- Physicians and families: Would broaden who can qualify to remain after completing service, let physicians seek immigration classification before finishing their service, and allow service time to aggregate toward a 5-year requirement. It would also provide short-term work authorization and extensions up to 6 months and exempt spouses and children from certain J-1 residency restrictions.
- States and underserved communities: Would change how waivers are allotted so states can receive 35 waivers when usage thresholds are met and gain 5 additional waivers in later years if use remains high. It also creates rules to recapture slots when physicians move between states and ties increases to state-level usage.
- Employers and protections: Would tighten the definition of a bona fide full-time offer, require a 3-year minimum service period, ban non-compete clauses, mandate written employment agreements on pay, on-call and malpractice coverage, and allow a 120-day window for terminated physicians to remain or transition.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Extend Conrad program for three years
If enacted, the bill would extend the Conrad State 30 program until three years after this Act is enacted. The amendment would be treated as if it took effect on September 30, 2018.
Easier green card paths for physicians
If enacted, this bill would make it easier for J‑1 physicians to change to other work visas and seek green cards. Federal or State agencies could ask DHS to change a physician's status without counting toward normal numerical caps. The bill would add a new immigrant preference for physicians who completed Conrad service, including those who finished before enactment, and would let them file earlier (though DHS could delay approval until service is done). It would also allow dual intent for trainees, treat certain foreign medical degrees like advanced degrees for immigration purposes, and clarify how five‑year National Interest Waiver service is measured.
Protections and timing for physicians
If enacted, waiver recipients would normally need to work three years in the approved status and start by the later of three 120‑day deadlines. The bill would require written job agreements stating maximum on‑call hours and pay, malpractice coverage or premiums, and all work locations, and would ban non‑competes. If your job ends, you would generally keep lawful status during the 120‑day or 45‑day allowance while you seek new work. The bill would also allow short status extensions in some training and State‑cap situations, including automatic extensions to October 1 and up to six months in limited cases.
More waiver slots and academic exceptions
If enacted, the bill would change how many Conrad waivers each State gets. States could get 35 waivers when most slots were used, and gain +5 waivers in later years if usage stays high. If total waivers fall, all States could lose five waivers at a time, but no State could fall below 30 waivers. The bill would also allow up to three State‑requested waivers per year for academic medical centers and let a State recapture a waiver when a physician relocates to another State.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Cosponsors
Susan Collins
ME • R
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Jacky Rosen
NV • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Thomas Tillis
NC • R
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 10/14/2025
John Boozman
AR • R
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Joni Ernst
IA • R
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govLive Policy Activity
LiveSurfaced from PRIA's policy knowledge graph — ranked by signal strength, connected by evidence.
Live · 5h ago15,853Bills1,439Wiki4 signals surfaced
Now TrackingHR8495
Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2027
Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14] (R-OH)
IntroducedApr 24
Cmte Reported—
Passed Origin Chbr—
Passed Second Chbr—
Resolving Diffs—
Enrolled—
Became Law—
Current StageIntroduced· 6d
Appropriations package that would fund Treasury and IRS while imposing rulemaking limits and detailed DC policy constraints, affecting taxpayers, community lenders, and DC residents.
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S4381Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (D-CO)
introduced
Legislation1w ago
42
Commending the Holy See for its enduring diplomatic relationship with Taiwan and affirming the support of Congress for the continued preservation of the Vatican-Taiwan diplomatic relationship.
HRES1215Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV)
introduced
Resolution praises and urges preserving the Vatican-Taiwan diplomatic bond, highlights Taiwan's religious freedom work and calls for more Vatican engagement.
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· reasoned by PRIA's knowledge graphGraph Connectionextracted100% confidence
Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 20273 U.S.C. § 106 — Assistance and services for the Vice President
“vernment, $8,000,000, to remain available until expended. Special Assistance to the President salaries and expenses For necessary expenses to enable the Vice President to provide assistance to the President in connection with specially assigned functions; services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 and 3 U.S.C. 106, including subsistence expenses as authorized by 3 U.S.C. 106, which shall be expended and accounted for as provided in that section; and hire of passenger motor vehicles, $6,015,000.”
Graph Connectionextracted100% confidence
A bill to appoint a Geothermal Ombudsman and establish a Geothermal Permitting Task Force from within the Bureau of Land Management, and for other purposes.30 U.S.C. § 1002 — Lands subject to geothermal leasing
“.--The term ``geothermal energy project'' means a project wholly or partially located on public land that uses geothermal energy to generate heat or electricity. (3) Public land.--The term ``public land'' means lands subject to geothermal leasing under section 3 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1002). (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. (5) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the Geothermal Permitting Task Force established under subsection (c). (b) Geothermal Ombudsman.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of ena”
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