Environmental Health Workforce Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
Introduced
Summary
National credentialing standards for the environmental health workforce. This bill would create a national framework to credential and train environmental health professionals and would expand Public Service Loan Forgiveness for qualifying workers.
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- Environmental health workers: Would define who counts as an environmental health worker and establish model credential standards plus technical help for State, local, and Tribal governments. The bill cites a loss of more than 50,600 jobs since 2008 and notes 27 States currently require credentials.
- HHS planning and GAO review: Would require the Department of Health and Human Services to produce a coordinated workforce development plan with performance measures and gap analysis. It also directs the Government Accountability Office to study best practices in six States, including Maryland, Ohio, Washington, Indiana, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.
- Loan forgiveness: Would add a new pathway in the Higher Education Act so full-time accredited, certified, or licensed environmental health workers can qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More student loan relief for health workers
If enacted, a full-time environmental health worker who is accredited, certified, or licensed would count as qualifying public service employment for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). The bill would define "environmental health worker" as public health workers who investigate and control hazardous environmental agents; that definition would decide who counts. You must have qualifying federal student loans and work full time in the defined role to qualify. This change would take effect upon enactment.
New credential standards and workforce plan
If enacted, the HHS Secretary would develop model credentialing standards for environmental health workers and give technical help to State, local, and Tribal governments not later than 1 year after enactment. The Secretary would also create a comprehensive plan for HHS programs to grow the environmental health workforce and submit it to Congress not later than 2 years after enactment. The plan must include performance measures, identify gaps versus HRSA projections, list actions to fix gaps, and identify any additional statutory authority needed.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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