119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 3980
The Streamline Emergency Care Act authorizes $20 million per year from 2026 through 2030 for grants to help hospitals improve their emergency departments. Nonprofit hospitals that already operate emergency departments can apply for grants up to $500,000 each to hire and retain emergency staff, modernize facilities, improve patient flow through renovations or new equipment, and provide training for existing workers. The bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration to report to Congress by the end of fiscal year 2028 on how well the program is working and what impact it has had on emergency department operations. This legislation targets a key problem in the healthcare system—emergency room overcrowding and staffing shortages—by giving hospitals the resources to expand and streamline their services.