# Summary of S. 5296: Pathways to Health Careers Act
This bill establishes a federal grant program to help low-income individuals enter healthcare careers through training and support services. The legislation creates competitive grants for eligible organizations—including workforce boards, hospitals, educational institutions, nonprofits, and tribal entities—to develop healthcare career pathway programs that include adult basic education, job training, case management, and career coaching. The bill includes two specialized demonstration projects: one focused on helping individuals with arrest or conviction records enter health professions, and another aimed at creating career pathways in maternal health services like doula and midwife training in states that recognize and pay for these roles.
Eligible individuals are those with family income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grantees must provide guaranteed access to childcare and transportation support, with the option to offer cash stipends and emergency assistance funds. The legislation authorizes $435 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with at least two grants per state and the District of Columbia, plus dedicated funding for tribal organizations and U.S. territories. The program requires robust evaluation and reporting on participant outcomes including graduation rates, credential attainment, employment, and earnings.
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