,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ffjg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #aa1 #bjbe,ms4 ,underwood introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,public ,health ,service ,act to authorize grants to support schools of nursing in increasing the number of nursing students and faculty and in program enhancement and infrastructure modernization1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,future ,advancement of ,academic ,nursing ,act or the ,,faan ,act4 #b4 ,support for nursing education and the future nursing workforce ,part ,d of title ,,viii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bifp et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #hcb4 ,nursing education enhancement and modernization grants in underserved areas 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,health ,resources and ,services ,administration1 may award grants to schools of nursing for-- 7#a7 increasing the number of faculty and students at such schools in order to address nursing workforce shortages2 7#b7 expanding the capacity of such schools to enhance the preparedness of the ,united ,states for1 and the ability of the ,united ,states to address and quickly respond to1 public health emergencies declared under section #cai and pandemics that are not otherwise declared as such emergencies2 or 7#c7 the enhancement and modernization of nursing education programs4 7b7 ,priority ,in selecting grant recipients under this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to schools of nursing that-- 7#a7 are located in1 or prepare students to practice in1 a medically underserved area 7as defined in section #ccj;,i7a772 7#b7 are located in1 or prepare students to practice in1 a health professional shortage area as defined under section #ccb7;a72 7#c7 are institutions of higher education listed under section #cga7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife2 or 7#d7 are located in1 or prepare students to practice in1 a rural area or a noncontiguous ,state or territory of the ,united ,states4 7c7 ,consideration ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary1 to the extent practicable1 may ensure equitable distribution of awards among the geographic regions of the ,united ,states4 7d7 ,use of funds ,a school of nursing that receives a grant under this section shall use the funds awarded through such grant for activities that include-- 7#a7 enhancing enrollment and retention of students at such school1 with a priority for students from disadvantaged backgrounds 7including racial or ethnic groups underrepresented in the nursing workforce71 individuals from rural and underserved areas1 low-income individuals1 and first generation college students 7as defined in section #djb;,a7h77#c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife71 including through mentorship programs1 providing tools and programming for underrepresented students1 and addressing other student needs2 7#b7 retaining current faculty1 and hiring new faculty1 with an emphasis on faculty from racial or ethnic groups who are underrepresented in the nursing workforce2 7#c7 partnering with a health care facility1 nurse-managed health clinic1 community health center1 or other facility that provides health care in order to provide educational opportunities for the purpose of establishing or expanding clinical education1 including through preceptors2 7#d7 modernizing infrastructure at such school1 including audiovisual or other equipment1 simulation and augmented reality resources1 telehealth technologies1 and virtual and physical laboratories2 7#e7 creating1 supporting1 or modernizing educational programs and curriculum at such school2 7#f7 enhancing and expanding nursing programs that prepare nurse researchers and scientists2 7#g7 establishing nurse-led intradisciplinary and interprofessional educational partnerships2 or 7#h7 other activities that the ,secretary determines further the development1 improvement1 and expansion of schools of nursing4 7e7 ,reports from entities ,each school of nursing awarded a grant under this section shall submit an annual report to the ,secretary on the activities conducted under such grant1 and other information as the ,secretary may require4 7f7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #e years after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives1 and make publicly available1 a report that provides a summary of the activities and outcomes associated with grants made under this section4 ,such report shall include-- 7#a7 a list of schools of nursing receiving grants under this section1 including the primary geographic location of any school of nursing that was improved or expanded through such a grant2 7#b7 the total number of students who are enrolled at or who have graduated from any school of nursing that was improved or expanded through a grant under this section1 which such statistic shall-- 7,a7 to the extent such information is available1 be deidentified and disaggregated by race1 ethnicity1 age1 sex1 geographic region1 disability status1 and other relevant factors2 and 7,b7 include an indication of the number of such students who are from racial or ethnic groups underrepresented in the nursing workforce1 such students who are from rural or underserved areas1 such students who are low-income students1 and such students who are first generation college students 7as defined in section #djb;,a7h77#c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife72 7#c7 to the extent such information is available-- 7,a7 the effects of the grants awarded under this section on-- 7i7 retaining and hiring of faculty1 including any increase in diverse faculty2 7ii7 the number of clinical education partnerships2 and 7iii7 the modernization of nursing education infrastructure2 and 7,b7 other ways this section helps to address nursing workforce shortages and quickly respond to public health emergencies declared under section #cai and pandemics that are not otherwise declared as such emergencies2 7#d7 recommendations for improving the grants awarded under this section2 and 7#e7 any other considerations as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #a1jjj1jjj1jjj to remain available until expended4 4 #c4 ,strengthening nurse education ,the heading of part ,d of title ,,viii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bifp et seq47 is amended by striking ,basic4