---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 295f–1"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "295f–1"
heading: "Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/295f-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter V — Health Professions Education"
  - "Part E — Health Professions and Public Health Workforce"
  - "Subpart 3 — recruitment and retention programs"
---

# §295f–1. Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program

- (a) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall establish the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) (referred to in this section as the “[Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4)”) to assure an adequate supply of, and encourage recruitment and retention of, public health professionals to eliminate critical public health workforce shortages in [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, and Tribal public health [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1).
- (b) **Eligibility—** To be eligible to participate in the [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), an individual shall—
  - (1)
    - (A)
      - (i) be accepted for enrollment, or be enrolled, as a student in an accredited [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7) or [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) of public health in the final semester (or equivalent) of a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) leading to a certificate or degree, including a master’s or doctoral degree, in public health, epidemiology, laboratory sciences, data systems, data science, data analytics, informatics, statistics, or another subject matter related to public health; and
      - (ii) be employed by, or have accepted employment with, a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, or Tribal public health [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), or a related training fellowship at such [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, or Tribal public health [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), as recognized by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), to commence upon graduation; or
    - (B)
      - (i) have graduated, during the preceding 10-year period, from an accredited [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7) or [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) of public health and received a certificate or degree, including a master’s or doctoral degree, in public health, epidemiology, laboratory sciences, data systems, data science, data analytics, informatics, statistics, or another subject matter related to public health; and
      - (ii) be employed by, or have accepted employment with, a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, or Tribal public health [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or a related training fellowship at such [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, or Tribal public health [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), as recognized by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c);
  - (2) be a United States citizen; and
  - (3)
    - (A) submit an application to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) to participate in the [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
    - (B) execute a written contract as required in [subsection (c)](#c); and
  - (4) not have received, for the same [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), a reduction of loan obligations under section 1087e(m), 1078–10, 1078–11, 1078–12, or 1087j of title 20.
- (c) **Contract—** The written contract (referred to in this section as the “written contract”) between the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) and an individual shall contain—
  - (1) an agreement on the part of the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) that the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) will repay on behalf of the individual loans incurred by the individual in the pursuit of the relevant degree or certificate in accordance with the terms of the contract;
  - (2) an agreement on the part of the individual that the individual will serve in the full-time employment of a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, or Tribal public health [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or a related fellowship [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) in a position related to the course of study or [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for which the contract was awarded for a period of time (referred to in this section as the “period of obligated [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a)”) of at least 3 consecutive years;
  - (3) an agreement, as appropriate, on the part of the individual to relocate to a priority [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) area (as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c)) in [exchange](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-21) for an additional loan repayment incentive amount to be determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c);
  - (4) a provision that any financial obligation of the United States arising out of a contract entered into under this section and any obligation of the individual that is conditioned thereon, is contingent on funds being appropriated for loan repayments under this section;
  - (5) a statement of the damages to which the United States is entitled,[^1] under this section for the individual’s breach of the contract; and
  - (6) such other statements of the rights and liabilities of the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) and of the individual, not inconsistent with this section.
- (d) **Payments—**
  - (1) **In general—** A loan repayment provided for an individual under a written contract under the [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) shall consist of payment, in accordance with [paragraph (2)](#d-2), for the individual toward the outstanding principal and interest on education loans incurred by the individual in the pursuit of the relevant degree or certificate described in [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1) in accordance with the terms of the contract.
  - (2) **Payments for years served—**
    - (A) **In general—** For each year of obligated [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) that an individual contracts to serve under [subsection (c)](#c) the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may pay up to $50,000 on behalf of the individual for loans described in [paragraph (1)](#d-1). With respect to [participants](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-11) under the [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) whose total eligible loans are less than $150,000, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall pay an amount that does not exceed ⅓ of the eligible loan balance for each year of obligated [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) of the individual.
    - (B) **Considerations—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may take action in making awards under this section to ensure that—
      - (i) an appropriate proportion of contracts are awarded to individuals who are eligible to participate in the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) pursuant to [subsection (b)(1)(A)](#b-1-A); and
      - (ii) contracts awarded under this section are equitably distributed among—
        - (I) the geographical regions of the United States;
        - (II) local, [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), and Tribal public health departments; and
        - (III) such public health departments under [subclause (II)](#d-2-B-ii-II) serving rural and urban areas.
  - (3) **Tax liability—** For the purpose of providing reimbursements for tax liability resulting from payments under [paragraph (2)](#d-2) on behalf of an individual, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall, in addition to such payments, make payments to the individual in an amount not to exceed 39 percent of the total amount of loan repayments made for the taxable year involved.
- (e) **Postponing obligated service—** With respect to an individual with a contract to serve under [subsection (c)](#c), the date of the initiation of the period of obligated [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) may be postponed as approved by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c).
- (f) **Breach of contract—** An individual who fails to comply with the contract entered into under [subsection (c)](#c) shall be subject to the same financial penalties as provided for under [section 254o](/usc/42/254o.md) of this title for breaches of loan repayment contracts under [section 254l–1](/usc/42/254l–1.md) of this title. In the event that a [participant](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-11) fails to either begin or complete the obligated [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) requirement of the loan repayment contract under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may waive or suspend either the unfulfilled [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) or the assessed damages as provided for under [section 254o(d)](/usc/42/254o.md?p=d) of this title, as appropriate.
- (g) **Eligible loans—** The loans eligible for repayment under this section are each of the following:
  - (1) Any loan for education or training for employment by a health department.
  - (2) Any loan under part E of subchapter VI (relating to nursing student loans).
  - (3) Any Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or Federal Direct Consolidation Loan (as such terms are used in section 455 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 [[20 U.S.C. 1087e](/usc/20/1087e.md)]).
  - (4) Any Federal Perkins Loan under part E of title I[^2] of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
  - (5) Any other Federal loan, as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) determines appropriate.
- (h) **Pilot program—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall, as appropriate, establish a pilot [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), to be known as the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), to provide for loan repayment for health professionals with expertise in infectious diseases and emergency preparedness and response activities to ensure an adequate supply of such professionals. Such [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) shall be administered consistent with the requirements of this section, except that, to be eligible to participate in the pilot [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), an individual shall—
    - (A)
      - (i) be accepted for enrollment, or be enrolled, as a student in an accredited [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7) in the final semester (or equivalent) of a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) leading to a health professions degree or certificate [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) relevant to such [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4); or
      - (ii) have graduated, during the preceding 10-year period, from an accredited [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7) with a health professions degree or certificate [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) relevant to such [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4); and
    - (B) be employed by, or have accepted employment with—
      - (i) a Federal health care facility;
      - (ii) a [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) health care facility that is located in a health professional shortage area (as defined in [section 254e of this title](/usc/42/254e.md)), a frontier health professional shortage area (as defined in [section 295p of this title](/usc/42/295p.md)), or a medically underserved community (as defined in [section 295p of this title](/usc/42/295p.md));
      - (iii) an entity receiving assistance under subchapter XXIV for the provision of clinical [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a);
      - (iv) a health [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), or a facility, operated by an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as those terms are defined in [section 5304 of title 25](/usc/25/5304.md)) or by an urban Indian organization (as defined in [section 1603 of title 25](/usc/25/1603.md)); or
      - (v) another relevant entity determined appropriate by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), as a health professional with expertise in infectious diseases or emergency preparedness and response.
  - (2) **Non-duplication of effort—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall ensure that the pilot [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) established under [paragraph (1)](#h-1) does not unnecessarily duplicate the National Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Corps Loan Repayment [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), or any other loan repayment [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) operated by the Department of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a).
  - (3) **Evaluation and report to Congress—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall evaluate the pilot [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) at the conclusion of the first cycle of recipients funded by the pilot [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).
    - (B) **Report—**
      - (i) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on the evaluation under [subparagraph (A)](#h-3-A). The report shall include, at a minimum, outcomes information from the pilot [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), including any impact on recruitment and retention of health professionals with expertise in infectious diseases and emergency preparedness and response activities.
      - (ii) **Recommendation—** The report under this subparagraph shall include a recommendation by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) as to whether the pilot [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under this subsection should be extended.
- (i) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2025.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The comma probably should not appear.
[^2]: So in original. Probably should be “part E of title IV”.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 776, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title V, § 5204, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 609; amended Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title II, § 2221(a), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5741.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (g)(4), is Pub. L. 89–329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219. Part E of title IV of the Act, which relates to Federal Perkins Loans, is classified to part E (§ 1087aa et seq.) of subchapter IV of chapter 28 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1 of Pub. L. 89–329, set out as a Short Title note under section 1001 of Title 20 and Tables.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 295f–1, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 771, as added Oct. 12, 1976, Pub. L. 94–484, title V, § 502, 90 Stat. 2293; amended Aug. 1, 1977, Pub. L. 95–83, title III, § 307(i), 91 Stat. 391; Dec. 19, 1977, Pub. L. 95–215, §§ 1(a), 2, 91 Stat. 1503, 1504; Nov. 9, 1978, Pub. L. 95–623, §§ 11(g), 12(d), 92 Stat. 3456, 3457; Sept. 29, 1979, Pub. L. 96–76, title II, § 207, 93 Stat. 583; Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, title XXVII, § 2746(a)(2), 95 Stat. 927; Oct. 22, 1985, Pub. L. 99–129, title II, § 211(b), 99 Stat. 539, related to eligibility for capitation grants, prior to repeal by act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 773, as added Nov. 4, 1988, Pub. L. 100–607, title VI, § 606(b), 102 Stat. 3127, effective Oct. 1, 1990.

Another prior section 295f–1, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 771, as added Oct. 22, 1965, Pub. L. 89–290, § 2(a), 79 Stat. 1052; amended Aug. 16, 1968, Pub. L. 90–490, title I, § 111(a), 82 Stat. 775; Nov. 2, 1970, Pub. L. 91–519, title I, § 101(a), 84 Stat. 1343; Nov. 18, 1971, Pub. L. 92–157, title I, § 104(a), 85 Stat. 443; Oct. 12, 1976, Pub. L. 94–484, title I, § 101(l), 90 Stat. 2245, authorized start-up assistance, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 94–484, title V, § 502, Oct. 12, 1976, 90 Stat. 2293, effective with respect to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 1977.

A prior section 776 of act July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 2692 and is classified to section 300ff–111 of this title.

Another prior section 776 of act July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 789, and was classified to section 295g–9 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–129, title II, § 220(g), Oct. 22, 1985, 99 Stat. 544.

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(10), substituted “Tribal” for “tribal”.

Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(1), substituted “supply of, and encourage recruitment and retention of,” for “supply of” and struck out “Federal,” before “State,”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(2)(A), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “be accepted for enrollment, or be enrolled, as a student in an accredited academic educational institution in a State or territory in the final year of a course of study or program leading to a public health or health professions degree or certificate; and have accepted employment with a Federal, State, local, or tribal public health agency, or a related training fellowship, as recognized by the Secretary, to commence upon graduation;”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(2)(B)(i), substituted “accredited institution of higher education or school of public health” for “accredited educational institution in a State or territory” and “a certificate or degree, including a master’s or doctoral degree, in public health, epidemiology, laboratory sciences, data systems, data science, data analytics, informatics, statistics, or another subject matter related to public health” for “a public health or health professions degree or certificate”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(10), substituted “Tribal public health agency or” for “tribal public health agency or”.

Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(2)(B)(ii), struck out “Federal,” before “State,” and substituted “fellowship at such State, local, or Tribal public health agency,” for “fellowship,”.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(10), substituted “Tribal” for “tribal”.

Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(3), struck out “Federal,” before “State,” and substituted “of at least 3 consecutive years;” for “equal to the greater of—

“(A) 3 years; or

“(B) such longer period of time as determined appropriate by the Secretary and the individual;”.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(4)(A), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A loan repayment provided for an individual under a written contract under the Program shall consist of payment, in accordance with paragraph (2), on behalf of the individual of the principal, interest, and related expenses on government and commercial loans received by the individual regarding the undergraduate or graduate education of the individual (or both), which loans were made for tuition expenses incurred by the individual.”

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(4)(B), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and inserted heading, substituted “$50,000” for “$35,000” and “$150,000” for “$105,000”, and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(5), substituted “with a contract to serve under subsection (c)” for “receiving a degree or certificate from a health professions or other related school”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(6), inserted at end “In the event that a participant fails to either begin or complete the obligated service requirement of the loan repayment contract under this section, the Secretary may waive or suspend either the unfulfilled service or the assessed damages as provided for under section 254o(d) of this title, as appropriate.”

Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(8), added subsecs. (g) and (h). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (i).

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 117–328, § 2221(a)(7), (9), redesignated subsec. (g) as (i) and substituted “$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2025” for “$195,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015”.