Jun 20 2006

House Reauthorizes H-1C Visa for Foreign Nurses in Medically Underserved Areas

The House of Representatives today passed the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Reauthorization Act of 2005. This amended bill would extend for a total of three years the 1999 act that provided H-1C visas for up to 500 foreign nurses per year to work in medically undeserved areas.

The original Reauthorization Bill was introduced by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) on 3/14/05 and cosponsored by Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL), and would have indefinitely extended the Act.

A similar bill, introduced by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), is currently pending in the Senate.