On May 19, 2021, U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), along with U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), announced the introduction of bipartisan, bicameral legislation to diversify America’s health-care workforce, specifically among five allied health professions severely lacking in racial and ethnic diversity.

The Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act would provide grant funding to colleges and universities to make audiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, and speech-language pathology programs more accessible to underrepresented communities, including racial and ethnic minorities.

The Academy worked closely with colleagues representing the other professions reflected in this legislation to secure this reintroduction. Identical legislation passed the House of Representatives in the 116th Congress.

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