H.R. 6607 — FAAN Act

This section establishes a grant program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants to schools of nursing (1) to increase faculty and students addressing nursing workforce shortages; (2) to expand capacity for responding to public health emergencies under PHSA section 319 and undeclared pandemics; or (3) to enhance and modernize nursing education programs. Grants prioritize schools in or serving medically underserved areas, health professional shortage areas, institutions listed under section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (i.e., historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions), or rural and noncontiguous areas, with consideration for equitable geographic distribution. Grant funds support (1) student enrollment and retention, prioritizing disadvantaged and underrepresented groups; (2) faculty retention and hiring, emphasizing underrepresented racial/ethnic groups; (3) clinical education partnerships; (4) infrastructure modernization, including simulation labs, telehealth, and virtual labs; (5) curriculum development; (6) nurse researcher programs; (7) interprofessional partnerships; or (8) other school improvement activities. Grantees must submit annual reports, and the Secretary must report to Congress within five years of enactment on grant activities, outcomes (including disaggregated student demographics and faculty diversity), and recommendations. The section authorizes $1,000,000,000, to remain available until expended.