Washington - In a noteworthy development, prominent US senators have unveiled legislation designed to gradually eliminate country quotas for green cards and make use of the unused visas from the annual Green Card quota to benefit doctors and nurses. The healthcare sector in the United States is currently grappling with a substantial shortage of healthcare professionals, and this legislation aims to provide a solution to this pressing issue.

The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act:

Led by Senators Kevin Cramer and Dick Durbin, the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act introduces a limited number of green cards for qualified immigrant doctors and nurses to tackle the critical healthcare workforce shortages. This bill allows for the "recapture" of green cards that were previously authorized by Congress but remained unused in prior years. It allocates a maximum of 25,000 immigrant visas for nurses and up to 15,000 immigrant visas for physicians. Importantly, it's worth noting that the bill does not introduce new visas.

The Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act:

In addition to the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, Senators Cramer and John Hickenlooper are reintroducing the Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act. This legislation aims to enable American employers to prioritize hiring immigrants based on their qualifications rather than their country of birth. The EAGLE Act seeks to phase out the seven percent per-country limit on employment-based immigrant visas and increase the seven percent limit on family-sponsored visas to 15 percent.

Addressing Backlogs and Prioritizing American Workers:

The EAGLE Act aims to tackle the backlog of individuals waiting for green cards by transitioning the allocation of employment-based green cards to a first-come, first-served application process. This move is intended to create a more merit-based system. Additionally, it ensures that American workers are given priority in hiring decisions by all US companies, preventing foreign workers from undercutting American workers for job opportunities.

Support from Stakeholders:

Both the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act and the EAGLE Act have garnered support from various stakeholders, including the North Dakota Hospital Association and the North Dakota Long Term Care Association. These organizations have emphasized the importance of addressing healthcare workforce shortages and providing flexibility in hiring highly trained international nurses and physicians.

Bipartisan Support:

The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act enjoys bipartisan support from a group of senators, including Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Mike Rounds, Joni Ernst, Todd Young, Roger Wicker, John Thune, Chris Coons, Kyrsten Sinema, Ron Wyden, Cory Booker, Tom Carper, Alex Padilla, and Tammy Duckworth. This bipartisan backing underscores the urgency of addressing the healthcare workforce shortage and the significance of implementing merit-based immigration policies.

The introduction of the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act and the EAGLE Act marks a significant step towards addressing the healthcare workforce shortage in the US and reforming the green card allocation system. By phasing out country quotas, recapturing unused visas, and prioritizing merit-based hiring, these bills aim to enhance the healthcare system and ensure that American workers are given top priority. The support from stakeholders and bipartisan senators underscores the importance of these legislative efforts in addressing the challenges faced by the healthcare sector and the need for a more equitable and efficient immigration system.