A Democratic bill with 7 Democratic cosponsors · See all 7 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Pathways to Health Careers Act aims to provide low-income individuals with opportunities to enter and follow career pathways in the health professions. This bill establishes a grant program to train people for roles such as nursing assistants, paramedics, and other health care occupations. It includes specific demonstration projects focused on individuals with arrest or conviction records and maternal mortality through pregnancy and postpartum services. To support participants, the bill mandates services like child care, transportation, and career coaching. The program also targets specific populations, including Indian tribes and those living in U.S. territories.
Yes· 3 of 17
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill is explicitly designed to provide career opportunities and financial support to low-income individuals.
- Scored +7
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill guarantees grants specifically for Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
- Scored +6
Is this likely to create jobs?
The bill funds training for high-demand health professions to facilitate career entry and job placement.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Career Advancement for Low-Income Individuals: The bill provides training for health professions that pay well or lead to well-sited occupations (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Support for Individuals with Criminal Records: Demonstration projects are designed to help people with arrest or conviction records acquire credentials, licensing, and employment in high-demand health careers (Section 2(a)(3)(A)).
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Maternal Health Support: A specific demonstration project focuses on providing education and training for careers in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum services (Section 2(c)(2)(B)(i)(II)).
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Essential Support Services: The bill requires projects to provide or assist with child care, transportation, and case management to help participants succeed (Section 2(d)(2)).
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Financial Assistance Options: Participants may receive benefits such as cash stipends, wage supplements, or emergency cash funds to assist with financial needs (Section 2(b)(5) and Section 2(d)(2)(B)).
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Targeted Support for Specific Communities: The bill guarantees grants specifically for Indian populations and those in U.S. territories (Section 2(c)(1)(B) and Section 2(c)(1)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Income Restrictions: Support is limited to "eligible individuals," defined as those whose family income does not exceed 200 percent of the Federal poverty level (Section 2(k)(5)).
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Strict Employment Barriers: For certain demonstration projects, participants may need to navigate specific State policies or laws regarding how arrest or conviction records affect their ability to obtain credentials or licensure (Section 2(a)(3)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill is explicitly designed to provide career opportunities and financial support to low-income individuals. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill guarantees grants specifically for Indian tribes and tribal organizations. Would students be better off under this? — The bill provides training and financial support for individuals pursuing postsecondary credentials. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill gives preference to projects that serve rural areas. Would women be better off under this? — The bill includes specific support for maternal health and careers like midwifery and doula services. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill provides career pathways that may benefit young adults entering the workforce. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill helps address workforce shortages in the healthcare sector. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill includes opportunities for partnership with labor unions.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill mandates that grant projects provide or assist with child care services for participants. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By training low-income individuals for well-paying careers, the bill supports long-term poverty reduction. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill provides specific grant guarantees for Indian populations and those in U.S. territories. Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The focus on maternal health and doula/midwife training provides support for women's health career pathways.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill funds training for high-demand health professions to facilitate career entry and job placement. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By training workers for high-demand sectors, the bill contributes to long-term workforce development and economic activity.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill aims to address workforce shortages in the health profession, which can increase overall access to care.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill funds vocational training and post-secondary credentials for low-income individuals.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill includes preference for projects serving rural areas.
- 8/6/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Christopher MurphyDemocrat · Connecticut
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon