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HR7351119th CongressWALLET

NURSE Visa Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a national 20,000 cap to expand nurse visas for shortage areas. It would tie eligibility to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) shortage-area designations and require hiring facilities to keep a provider-to-patient staffing ratio policy.

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  • Nurses: Would be eligible for nonimmigrant nurse visas based on HRSA-designated shortage areas rather than state-by-state allocations, with up to 20,000 visas available nationally.
  • Health care facilities: Must maintain a written provider-to-patient staffing ratio policy as a condition for hiring or continuing to employ these nonimmigrant nurses.
  • Shortage-area communities: HRSA-designated high-need areas would be prioritized for placements under the program, shifting the focus to federally identified shortage locations.
  • Federal agencies: The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of State would have 1 year to issue regulations to implement the changes.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

More nurse visas, new facility rules

If enacted, the bill would set one nationwide cap of 20,000 nurse visas for work in HRSA-designated shortage areas. It would remove the old state-by-state visa limits. Facilities that hire or keep nurses under this program would need a written provider-to-patient staffing ratio policy. HHS and the State Department would have one year to write rules to implement these changes. The changes would take effect on the date the Act is enacted and apply to H(i)(c) petitions.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

VA • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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