Infrastructure legislation negotiations continue to intensify as President Joe Biden seeks a bipartisan deal. Republican lawmakers are pushing a counteroffer of about $600 billion to President Biden’s $2 trillion-plus American Jobs Plan. Both parties continue to express optimism, but they remain far apart on fundamental issues. Absent an agreement, Congressional leaders will likely pursue budget reconciliation to advance infrastructure legislation, including the $1.8 trillion American Families Plan, to meet the self-imposed July 4 deadline.
GNYHA and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Graduate Medical Education (GME) Advocacy Coalition sent a letter (attached) to President Biden and Congressional leaders to request the inclusion of physician workforce support in infrastructure legislation and to urge Congress to pass the bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2021 (S. 834/ H.R. 2256).
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other members of Congress support including hospital and health care provider investments in infrastructure legislation. GNYHA will continue to advocate for investments in capital access, health care workforce development, and health information technology. Please see our infrastructure priorities paper here.