AHA-backed legislation introduced Wednesday by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) would set aside 20,000 employment-based visas in each of the next three years for foreign-educated registered nurses and physical therapists. The bill (H.R. 2536) also would provide funds to help U.S. nursing schools expand the domestic supply of nurses, and establish a three-year pilot program aimed at keeping U.S. nurses in the workforce. The U.S. has a waiting list for employment-based visas for internationally educated nurses, and its nurse education programs turn away 99,000 qualified applicants a year due to lack of faculty and other resources.