The AAMC joined 45 other organizations in sending March 26 letters of support for the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1585/S. 709) to the House (PDF) and Senate (PDF) original sponsors. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation was introduced by Reps. David Valadao (R-Calif.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), and Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), and Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). The legislation would reauthorize and expand the State Conrad 30 J-1 visa waiver program, which currently allows each state to sponsor up to 30 international medical graduates (IMGs) per year to remain in the United States after completing medical residency on a J-1 visa.
The legislation seeks to increase the number of physicians serving in rural and medically underserved areas. Specifically, the legislation would reauthorize the Conrad 30 program for three years, establish a process to gradually increase the number of available waivers per state if certain thresholds are met, and clarify and improve the waiver process.
The AAMC has supported similar legislation in previous Congresses and continues to offer support for the reauthorization and expansion of the Conrad 30 program [refer to Washington Highlights, Aug. 23, 2023 and June 4, 2021].
- Washington Highlights