House Passes Bill To Extend J-1 Visa Waiver Program for Foreign Physicians

The House on Wednesday by voice vote passed a bill (HR 1127) that, among other provisions, would extend the J-1 visa waiver program, which allows foreign physicians to practice in medically underserved communities, through the end of fiscal year 2009, CQ Today reports. Under the program, foreign graduates of U.S. medical schools can avoid a requirement that they leave the nation for two years before they apply to return, provided that they agree to practice in medically underserved communities for three years.

The program would end on March 6, when a continuing resolution that has funded most Cabinet departments and federal agencies since October 2008 will expire. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who sponsored the bill, said that the program is "too important to let expire" (Demirjian, CQ Today, 3/4).