The FAAN Act would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to schools of nursing to increase the number of faculty and students, expand capacity, and modernize nursing education programs. It creates a new grant program (Section 832) to support Nursing Education Enhancement and Modernization in Underserved Areas, with priority for institutions serving medically underserved or rural areas and those in health professional shortage areas.
Grants may be used for enrollment and retention, faculty development and diversification, clinical education partnerships, infrastructure upgrades, curriculum modernization, nurse research, and interprofessional education. The bill also renames the broader nursing education heading and requires annual reporting, with a comprehensive five-year congressional report and a $1 billion appropriation to fund the program.
At a Glance
What It Does
The Secretary, through HRSA, may award grants to schools of nursing to (1) increase faculty and student numbers, (2) expand capacity to improve emergency readiness, and (3) modernize nursing education programs under the new Section 832.
Who It Affects
Schools of nursing, HRSA, nursing students and faculty, and the health systems that collaborate with schools for clinical education, especially in medically underserved and rural areas.
Why It Matters
The program targets nursing workforce shortages, expands training capacity, and strengthens the nation’s readiness for public health emergencies by modernizing education infrastructure and curricula.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The FAAN Act would add a new grant program to the Public Health Service Act to support nursing education nationwide, with a focus on underserved areas. Section 832—Nursing Education Enhancement and Modernization Grants in Underserved Areas—authorizes the Secretary, via HRSA, to award grants to schools of nursing to (a) grow the number of faculty and students, (b) expand capacity to strengthen emergency preparedness and rapid response to public health emergencies, and (c) modernize nursing education programs.
The bill directs grant priority to schools in medically underserved areas, health professional shortage areas, rural or noncontiguous regions, and institutions listed in relevant higher education law codes, while also promoting equitable distribution across geographic regions. Use of funds includes boosting enrollment and retention, hiring diverse faculty, forming clinical partnerships, upgrading infrastructure (including telehealth, simulation, and labs), and expanding education and research programs in nursing.
Recipients must submit annual reports, and the Secretary must deliver a public, five-year summary of grant activities and outcomes, including geographic and demographic breakdowns of students served. The authorization of appropriations would provide $1 billion to remain available until expended.
Separately, the measure changes the heading of the nursing education section of Part D, replacing the prior label with a term that better reflects a strengthened program focus.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill creates Section 832, authorizing HRSA to award Nursing Education Enhancement and Modernization Grants in Underserved Areas to schools of nursing.
Grant activities span increasing faculty and student capacity, emergency preparedness, and modernization of infrastructure and curricula.
Priority for grant awards targets medically underserved areas, health professional shortage areas, rural or noncontiguous regions, and eligible higher education institutions.
Grants require annual reporting by recipients and a five-year public report to Congress detailing recipients and outcomes with demographic breakdowns where available.
A new funding authorization of $1,000,000,000 is provided to remain available until expended.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Short title and purpose
The FAAN Act is introduced as the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing Act. It sets the stage for a federal program to strengthen nursing education through targeted grants and program modernization, signaling a policy goal of expanding the nursing workforce and improving emergency readiness.
Support for Nursing Education and the Future Nursing Workforce
This section adds Section 832 to Part D of Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act. It authorizes the Secretary, acting through HRSA, to award grants to schools of nursing for (1) expanding faculty and student numbers, (2) increasing capacity to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies, and (3) modernizing nursing education programs. The section also sets criteria for grant prioritization (underserved, shortage areas, rural or noncontiguous regions, and eligible HEA institutions) and directs that awards consider equitable geographic distribution.
Nursing Education Enhancement and Modernization Grants in Underserved Areas
Nursing schools may use grants to: (a) boost enrollment and retention, prioritizing students from disadvantaged backgrounds; (b) retain and hire diverse faculty; (c) partner with healthcare facilities for clinical education; (d) modernize infrastructure (equipment, simulation, telehealth, laboratories); (e) develop or update curricula; (f) support nurse researchers and interprofessional education; and (g) pursue other activities that advance nursing education. Recipients must submit annual reports and the Secretary must publish a five-year public outcomes report detailing recipients, locations, enrollment and graduation figures, and program impact.
Strengthening Nurse Education
The heading of Part D of Title VIII is amended by striking BASIC, signaling a shift toward stronger, modernized nursing education provisions. This change clarifies the policy space for enhanced investments in nursing education and workforce development, aligning the administrative structure with the expanded program goals.
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Explore Healthcare in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- Nursing students from disadvantaged backgrounds who gain enrollment and retention support.
- Nurse faculty from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups who receive targeted hiring and retention assistance.
- Schools of nursing located in medically underserved or rural areas that can expand capacity and improve program quality.
- Healthcare facilities, nurse-managed clinics, and community health centers that partner for clinical education and preceptorships.
- Communities in health professional shortage areas that benefit from expanded nursing education capacity and clinical training opportunities.
Who Bears the Cost
- Federal taxpayers funding the $1 billion authorization for the program.
- HRSA, which administers the grants and bears program oversight costs.
- Recipient schools that incur administrative and program development costs to implement expanded enrollment, faculty recruitment, and infrastructure upgrades.
- Partner healthcare facilities that contribute time and resources to clinical education and preceptorships.
- Public funds used in lieu of other programs, creating potential opportunity costs elsewhere in the health workforce portfolio.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is whether rapid scale-up of nursing education and infrastructure through targeted federal grants can simultaneously ensure high-quality training and durable improvements in underserved areas, given finite funding, administrative complexity, and the need for long-term workforce integration.
The FAAN Act presents a robust equity and capacity-building program, but it raises policy tensions that smart implementers will watch. The reliance on discretionary federal funds requires careful governance to ensure timely awards and consistent oversight.
Because priority is given to underserved and rural areas, success hinges on the ability of grantees to recruit and retain qualified faculty, integrate with clinical partners, and sustain improvements over time. Data collection and reporting will be essential for assessing impact, yet disaggregation of data by race, ethnicity, and other factors must balance transparency with privacy.
Finally, coordination with existing health workforce and higher-education programs will determine whether the new funds fill gaps or duplicate efforts.
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