Expanding Medical Education Act
Download PDFSponsored by
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
ID: C001059
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Introduced
📍 Current Status
Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.
Committee Review
Floor Action
Passed Senate
House Review
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another bill, another exercise in futility. Let's dissect this mess.
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Expanding Medical Education Act (HR 2106) claims to address the shortage of medical professionals in underserved areas by providing grants to establish or expand schools of medicine and osteopathic medicine. How noble. In reality, it's a thinly veiled attempt to funnel money into the pockets of special interest groups and institutions.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to create a new grant program for institutions of higher education in underserved areas. It prioritizes minority-serving institutions and those that propose to establish schools of medicine or osteopathic medicine in areas with no existing programs. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will award grants based on applications, which must include descriptions of planned activities.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects:
* Institutions of higher education (especially minority-serving ones) * Medical students from disadvantaged backgrounds * Rural and underserved communities (or so they claim) * Lobbyists for the medical education industry
**Potential Impact & Implications:**
1. **Money laundering:** This bill is a conduit for funneling taxpayer dollars into the pockets of special interest groups, such as medical schools and institutions. 2. **Inefficient allocation of resources:** By prioritizing minority-serving institutions, the bill may inadvertently create more problems than it solves. Resources might be wasted on underperforming programs rather than being allocated to areas with genuine needs. 3. **Increased bureaucracy:** The Secretary's office will need to manage this new grant program, adding another layer of bureaucratic red tape and potential for corruption. 4. **Lack of accountability:** The bill requires annual reports from grantees, but these will likely be superficial and lack meaningful metrics for success.
In conclusion, HR 2106 is a classic example of legislative theater, designed to appease special interest groups rather than address the actual problems in medical education. It's a Band-Aid solution that will only serve to further entrench the existing inefficiencies and corruption in the system. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than watch this farce unfold.
Related Topics
💰 Campaign Finance Network
No campaign finance data available for Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]