Covid-19: Legislation introduced in Congress to give green card to foreign nurses and doctors

WASHINGTON: Several US lawmakers have introduced legislation in Congress to grant unused green cards or permanent legal residency to thousands of foreign nurses and doctors to meet the urgent needs of the overburdened healthcare sector in the United States.
The Health Care Workforce Resilience Act would allow for the recovery of green cards that were approved by Congress but have not been used in recent years, allowing thousands of additional medical professionals to provide permanent services in the United States.
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The legislation would send green cards to 25,000 nurses and 15,000 doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic and would ensure that places like Iowa have the professionals they need to care for patients for years to come, according to a press release.
The move is likely to benefit a large number of Indian nurses and doctors, who have H-1B or J2 visas.
the H-1B visa It is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to hire foreign workers in specialized occupations that require theoretical or technical experience. Businesses depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.
A Green Card, officially known as a Permanent Residence Card, is a document issued to immigrants to the US. USA As evidence that the bearer has been granted the privilege of permanently residing.
In the House of Representatives, he was introduced by lawmakers Abby Finkenauer, Brad Schneider, Tom Cole, and Don Bacon. The bipartisan Senate bill is led by Senators David Perdue, Dick durbin, Todd young and Chris Coons.

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“We need all hands to tackle this generational crisis,” said Congresswoman Finkenauer.
“We know this virus will not magically go away, and experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci are warning of a second wave this fall. Rural areas, which make up much of my district, remain especially vulnerable and are already experiencing a shortage of medical professionals “, said. said.
The act has the support of organizations such as the American Medical Association, the Healthcare Leadership Council, the United States Chamber of Commerce, the American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment, the American Hospital Association, the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, the Center for Bipartisan Policy, America’s Essential Hospitals, and Physicians for Access to Health Care in the United States.
“Doctors fighting COVID-19 are eager to hear these words: reinforcements are on the way. Retrieving 15,000 unused immigrant visas for doctors through the Health Workforce Resilience Act would ease the burden on doctors frontline, who risk their lives in understaffed hospitals. ” Patrice A Harris, president of the American Medical Association, said.
The American Hospital Association (AHA) and the American Nursing Leadership Organization (AONL) said there has never been a more urgent need for the care provided by foreign-born physicians and foreign-trained nurses than during the current pandemic of COVID-19. These professionals play a critical role in ensuring the health of our communities, they said.