Johnson Introduces Bill to Bolster Workforce Development for Community Health Centers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32) introduced the Community Health Workforce Development Act. The legislation will establish a dedicated Advisory Committee on Training within Community Health Centers (CHC) to ensure that federal training programs are effective, accountable, and responsive to the needs of North Texas communities.

"North Texas is lucky to be home to multiple Community Health Centers and a dedicated health care workforce, but they are stretched too thin. During my health care roundtable in Dallas, I heard from the CHC community on all kinds of workforce-related challenges that they face, especially because they uniquely provide integrated services based on their communities' needs. That became a clear mandate for my work in Congress," said Johnson. "This bill is carefully crafted to include a range of health professions, patient representation, and geographic representation, and platform their perspectives with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Veterans Health Administration leadership to make the changes we urgently need."

Modeled after current Advisory Committees that have successfully elevated their respective issues, this committee would convene experienced health professionals and patient voices to provide input and guidance on workforce development in Community Health Centers. The committee would report to Congress and publicize findings on current training activities and needs, as well as recommendations to strengthen our health care workforce pipeline.

According to the Texas Association of Community Health Centers, Texas health centers currently employ over 16,300 Texans, train thousands of health care providers each year, and strengthen the Texas economy by providing an economic output of over $5 billion a year. They have provided primary care to one in 17 Texans, with the number of patients served increasing by 57 percent in the last ten years.

To watch a video on Johnson's Community Health Center bill introduction, click here. To read the full text of the legislation, click here.

Congresswoman Julie Johnson represents Texas's 32nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving on the Homeland Security Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her district includes parts of Collin, Dallas, and Denton Counties.

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