To improve access to physicians in medically underserved areas.

May 20, 2004

Mr. MORAN of Kansas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

To improve access to physicians in medically underserved areas.

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 `Access to Rural Physicians Improvement Act of 2004'.

SEC. 2. WAIVER OF FOREIGN COUNTRY RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT WITH RESPECT TO INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES.

(a) Extension of Deadline-

(1) In general- Section 220(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note) (as amended by section 11018 of Public Law 107-273) is amended by striking `and before June 1, 2004.' and inserting `and before the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Access to Rural Physicians Improvement Act of 2004.'.

(2) Effective dates-

(A) In general- Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

(B) Special effective date- With respect only to aliens admitted to the United States under section 101(a)(15)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(J)), or acquiring status under such section after admission, during the period beginning on June 1, 2004, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, the amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect as if this Act were enacted on May 31, 2004.

(b) Exemption From H1B Numerical Limitations-

(1) In general- Section 214(l)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(1)(2)(A) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`The numerical limitations contained in subsection (g)(1)(A) shall not apply to any alien whose status is changed under the preceding sentence, if the alien obtained a waiver of the 2-year foreign residence requirement upon a request by an interested State agency.'.

(2) Effective date- The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect as if this Act were enacted on September 30, 2003.

END