Speech #1060000940

The rapid aging of our nations population. the demands of the AIDs crisis. increasing emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. and the growth of home health care have exceeded our ability to educate an adequate number of physical therapy and occupational therapy practitioners. In addition. technological advances are allowing injured and disabled individuals to survive conditions that. in past years. would have proven fatal. Americas inability to educate an adequate number of physical therapists has led to an increased reliance on foreigneducated. nonimmigrant temporary workers (H1B visa holders). The U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform has identified physical therapy and occupational therapy as having the highest number of H1B visa holders in the U.S.. second only to computer specialists. While the INS does not categorize occupational therapy as a separate profession when tracking H1B visa entrants. the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy documents that the percentage of newly certified occupational therapists who are foreign graduates has risen from 3% in 1985 to more than 20% in The legislation I introduce today would provide necessary assistance to physical and occupational therapy programs throughout the country. In awarding grants. preference would be given to applicants seeking to educate and train practitioners at clinical sites in medically underserved communities. In addition to the shortage of practitioners. the current shortage of physical therapy and occupational therapy faculty impedes the expansion of established programs.