Developing and implementing strategies for local health equity

(a) Grants The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting jointly with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, shall make grants to eligible institutions of higher educations for the purposes of— (1) in accordance with subsection (b), developing capacity— (A) to build an evidence base for successful strategies for increasing local health equity; and (B) to serve as national models of driving local health equity; and (2) in accordance with subsection (c), developing a strategic partnership with the community in which the institution is located. (b) Developing capacity for increasing local health equity As a condition of receipt of a grant under subsection (a), an institution of higher education shall agree to use such grant to build an evidence base for successful strategies for increasing local health equity, and to serve as a national model of driving local health equity, by supporting— (1) resources to strengthen institutional metrics and capacity to execute institution-wide health workforce goals that can serve as models for increasing health equity in communities across the United States; (2) collaborations among a cohort of institutions in implementing systemic change, partnership development, and programmatic efforts supportive of health equity goals across disciplines and populations; and (3) enhanced or newly developed data systems and research infrastructure capable of informing current and future workforce efforts and building a foundation for a broader research agenda targeting urban health disparities. (c) Strategic partnerships As a condition of receipt of a grant under subsection (a), an institution of higher education shall agree to use the grant to develop a strategic partnership with the community in which such institution is located for the purposes of— (1) strengthening connections between such institution and the community— (A) to improve evaluation of, and address, the health and health workforce needs of such community; and (B) to engage such community in health workforce development; (2) developing, enhancing, or accelerating innovative undergraduate and graduate programs in the biomedical sciences and health professions; and (3) strengthening pipeline programs in the biomedical sciences and health professions, including by developing partnerships between institutions of higher education and elementary schools and secondary schools to recruit the next generation of health professionals earlier in the pipeline to a health care career. (d) Definition of eligible institution of higher education For purposes of this section, the term eligible institution of higher education includes— (1) a program authorized under section 317(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(a)); and (2) a professional or graduate institution described in section 326 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1063b). (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.