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H.R. 6989119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Jan 8, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 6989 would fund hiring and training of public health nurses, prioritizing underserved, rural, and high-need communities, at up to $5B per year.
50-second read · 5 questions answered below
This bill would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to give grants to state, local, and territorial public health departments. Departments could use the money to recruit, hire, and train registered nurses, covering wages, benefits, and protective equipment. Nurses would be placed in underserved communities, mobile health clinics, hospitals, and home visitation programs.
State, local, and territorial public health departments would receive the grants. Communities with high rates of chronic disease, infant mortality, or maternal health problems, as well as low-income, rural, and medically underserved areas, would be prioritized.
If passed, federal funds would expand the public health nursing workforce in areas that currently have fewer health resources. Grant recipients would be required to keep their existing spending in place, so federal money would add to current efforts rather than replace them.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.