Bill · S. 4110· Senate(119-S-4110)
EMPOWER for Health Act
- Introduced
- 3/17/2026
- Last activity
- 7/28/2026 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 529.
- Sponsored by
- John Reed
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the EMPOWER for Health Act. It updates and extends various health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act through fiscal year 2031. The legislation focuses heavily on supporting the pediatric health care workforce, including pediatric subspecialties and mental or behavioral health disciplines. It also expands area health education center programs to reach younger students and provides specific support for nursing workforce analysis and technical assistance. Overall, the bill directs funding and resources toward training and placing medical professionals where they are needed most.
Yes· 3 of 34
Would children be better off under this?+9
Strongly expands pediatric care access and funding for underserved children.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+7
Increases funding for health professions and targets underserved populations.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+6
Targets Medicaid populations and underserved pediatric populations.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-3
It increases funding levels across several title VII programs through 2031.
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-2
The bill increases authorized spending for multiple health workforce programs.
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?-1
Increases spending without identifying specific offsets.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2 reauthorizes and increases funding for multiple health professions workforce programs, such as increasing authorizations for health professions programs under section 740 and faculty loan repayment programs under section 748, which helps support the training and education of medical professionals across the country.
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Section 3 updates pediatric workforce programs to explicitly target underserved pediatric populations and children enrolled in Medicaid, helping to ensure that vulnerable children have better access to needed specialized medical and behavioral health care.
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Section 4 expands area health education center programs under section 751(c)(1)(G) to include middle schools alongside high schools, introducing younger students to pre-collegiate health career opportunities earlier.
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Section 5 adds specific support for nursing workforce analysis under section 761, providing grants and technical assistance focused on advancing the nursing workforce, developing strategies to alleviate shortages, and sharing best practices.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 3 establishes rules regarding breach of contract and allows the Secretary to use a liquidated damages formula for individuals who fail to complete their obligated service terms, which could impose financial burdens on health professionals who are unable to finish their commitments.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+9Good For Low Income Households+6Good For Rural Residents+6Good For Students+6Good For African Americans+5Good For Hispanic Americans+5Good For Native Americans+5Good For Immigrants+4Good For People With Disabilities+4Good For Urban Residents+4Good For Young Adults+4Good For Asian Americans+3Good For Farmers+3Good For L G B T Q Community+3Good For Men+3Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For White Americans+3Good For Women+3Good For Middle Aged+2Good For Retirees+2Good For Seniors+2Good For High Income Households+1
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+7Improves Mental Health Access+5Increases Research Funding+3Increases Medicaid Funding+2
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+3Improves College Affordability+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+3Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+4
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3Improves Economic Growth+2Reduces Government Spending-3Reduces National Debt-2Improves Fiscal Responsibility-1
- 7/28/2026
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 529.
- 7/22/2026
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 3/17/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1093)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska