SHM advocacy on immigration issues
SHM has been advocating for more equitable skilled-immigration system, recognizing that from visa-backlogs to per-country caps, unfair visa restrictions have limited the United States’ ability to adequately expand its health care workforce.
The Society has consistently advocated on Capitol Hill for visa and skilled-immigration reform and has championed several significant immigration bills, including the following:
The Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act
- This legislation will eliminate per-country caps on green cards and convert the system into a “first-come, first-serve” system. This will help ensure certain nationalize are not disproportionally impacted by excessive green card backlogs.
- This legislation has passed the House of Representatives. Send a message to your Senator asking them to cosponsor this legislation.
The Conrad State 30 Physician Reauthorization Act
- This legislation will renew the Conrad State 30 program, which allows physicians on a J-1 visa to remain in the United States if they work in an underserved region for a minimum of three years. This legislation also included additional employment protection claims.
The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act
- This legislation will recapture 40,000 unused immigrant visas for foreign doctors (15,000) and nurses (25,000), as well as provide visas for their spouse and children.
- This legislation will only be in effect for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
To join SHM in supporting our immigrant clinicians, you can send a message to your representatives in support of these bills by visiting hospitalmedicine.org/takeaction.
© Frontline Medical Communications 2018-2021. Reprinted with permission, all rights reserved.
