To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to make certain graduate programs in professional psychology eligible to participate in various health professions loan programs.

January 7, 2003

Mr. INOUYE introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to make certain graduate programs in professional psychology eligible to participate in various health professions loan programs.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Strengthen the Public Health Service Act'.

SEC. 2. PARTICIPATION IN VARIOUS HEALTH PROFESSIONS LOAN PROGRAMS.

(a) LOAN AGREEMENTS- Section 721 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292q) is amended--

(1) in subsection (a), by inserting `, or any public or nonprofit school that offers a graduate program in professional psychology' after `veterinary medicine';

(2) in subsection (b)(4), by inserting `, or to a graduate degree in professional psychology' after `or doctor of veterinary medicine or an equivalent degree'; and

(3) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting `, or schools that offer graduate programs in professional psychology' after `veterinary medicine'.

(b) LOAN PROVISIONS- Section 722 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292r) is amended--

(1) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting `, or to a graduate degree in professional psychology' after `or doctor of veterinary medicine or an equivalent degree';

(2) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting `, or at a school that offers a graduate program in professional psychology' after `veterinary medicine'; and

(3) in subsection (k)--

(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking `or podiatry' and inserting `podiatry, or professional psychology'; and

(B) in paragraph (4), by striking `or podiatric medicine' and inserting `podiatric medicine, or professional psychology'.

SEC. 3. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

(a) HEALTH PROFESSIONS DATA- Section 792(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295k(a)) is amended by striking `clinical' and inserting `professional'.

(b) PROHIBITION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION ON BASIS OF SEX- Section 794 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295m) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking `clinical' and inserting `professional'.

(c) DEFINITIONS- Section 799B(1)(B) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p(1)(B)) is amended by striking `clinical' each place it appears and inserting `professional'.

END