This bill updates federal grants to fund training programs that help low-income individuals enter and advance in health care careers, with specific provisions for individuals with past records and maternal health workers.
Danny Davis
Representative
IL-7
This bill, the Pathways to Health Careers Act, updates and funds the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program to train low-income individuals for careers in the health professions. It establishes rigorous application requirements for grantees, mandating comprehensive support services like childcare and career coaching to ensure participant success. The legislation also sets aside specific funding for demonstration projects focused on helping individuals with past records and expanding maternal health workforce roles.
New Career Grants Guarantee Childcare and Transportation for Low-Income Health Trainees
The Pathways to Health Careers Act is essentially a major update and funding boost for the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program, which aims to get low-income people into good-paying healthcare jobs. Think of it as a massive, federally funded career ladder with mandatory safety nets. Starting in 2026, this bill appropriates $435 million annually through 2030 to train eligible individuals—meaning those at or below 200% of the Federal poverty level—for roles like allied health, nursing, and EMTs.
The All-Inclusive Training Model
This isn't just a tuition check. The bill requires grant applicants to use a "career pathways approach" that covers everything from basic adult education to specific skill training and job readiness. The real game-changer is the requirement for guaranteed support services. If you enroll in one of these programs, the grant must ensure you have affordable childcare and transportation, either through subsidized referrals or direct payment. For the working parent trying to level up their career, this removes two of the biggest roadblocks to completing training. Grantees must also provide case management and career coaching before, during, and after training, ensuring participants don't just get a certificate, but actually land and keep the job.
Opening Doors for Second Chances and New Professions
A significant chunk of the funding is dedicated to two specific demonstration projects. First, at least 25% of the demonstration money is reserved for projects helping people with past arrest or conviction records enter the healthcare field. This is a huge deal, but there’s a catch: the state where the project operates must already have laws allowing people with those records to obtain certain allied health credentials. If a state hasn't updated its licensing laws, this specific funding stream can’t flow there, which could leave deserving candidates stranded in states with restrictive policies. The second demonstration project focuses on maternal health, training professions like doulas and midwives, provided the state recognizes and pays for those services through insurance.
Where the Money Goes
The funding structure is designed to ensure wide reach. The Secretary must award grants to at least two qualified entities in every state, plus set aside specific funds for Indian tribes (4%) and U.S. territories (5%). This means whether you live in a dense urban area or a rural community, there’s a mandate to fund local training opportunities. The bill also allows grantees to provide cash stipends or emergency cash funds to participants, and crucially, these funds are explicitly stated as not counting as taxable income, which helps ensure participants don't lose other essential federal benefits while they train. While the bill is great news for low-income workers and the healthcare sector, running this massive, complex program requires dedicated oversight. The bill reserves $10 million annually just to hire and retain at least 25 career civil servants to manage and evaluate the grants, a necessary administrative cost to ensure this much money is spent effectively and fairly.