Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), New Jersey’s only member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, voted in favor of H.R. 3398, the Pathways to Health Careers Act. Co-sponsored by Rep. Pascrell, this legislation will expand the current Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program which helps provide education and training to low-income Americans for health occupations that are in high-demand or are experiencing labor shortages. Rep. Pascrell’s HOPE Act (H.R. 3346), which would guarantee least two HPOG grantees per state, was included in H.R. 3398, which was approved by the Ways and Means Committee this morning.

“The Health Profession Opportunity Grant Program is critical. By providing education and training to low-income Americans for health occupations that are in high-demand or are experiencing labor shortages, this is a program that is a lifeline for many communities,” said Rep. Pascrell. “While some states are fortunate to have multiple grantees in their cities and towns, not every state has one of these programs. This deficiency is precisely why I introduced the HOPE Act, which was included in today’s bill. The Pathways to Health Careers Act will move more families into the middle class by facilitating the creation of more high-demand health care jobs for every community and I was proud to vote for it today.”

As one of 29 states without any current HPOG programs, New Jersey would see significant job growth in health-related occupations with full passage of this bill and the formation of at least two HPOG programs as mandated by Rep. Pascrell’s HOPE Act. Bergen County Community College’s Health Professions program could be bolstered by the formation of HPOG programs in New Jersey, as many hopeful candidates would receive the support they need to take that next step in their career training.

Both H.R.3398 and H.R.3346 will help spur job growth and support low-income New Jerseyans in their pursuit of a career, two mainstays of Rep. Pascrell’s longtime advocacy in the Congress.