MORE Act
The MORE Act (Making Opportunities Reachable for Everyone Act) would change the Health Profession Opportunity Grants program by adding a requirement that applicants allowed to receive preference must have established business and community partnerships in three specific categories: (1) state and local government agencies and social service providers, (2) institutions of higher education, apprenticeship programs, and local workforce development boards (per the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), and (3) health care employers and health care industry partnerships, as well as labor unions or labor-management partnerships. The Secretary would grant preference to these partnership-rich applicants when considering grant awards under Section 2008 of the Social Security Act. The bill also makes technical changes to the section’s subsections and provides an effective date of October 1, 2025. In short, the bill seeks to promote stronger collaboration across government, education/workforce systems, and the health care sector by prioritizing grant applications that demonstrate cross-sector partnerships.
Key Points
- 1The bill adds a new subsection (c) to Section 2008 of the Social Security Act, creating a formal preference in grant decisions for Health Profession Opportunity Grants.
- 2To qualify for preference, an applicant must have business and community partners in all three categories: (1) state/local government agencies and social service providers; (2) institutions of higher education, apprenticeship programs, and local workforce development boards under WIOA; and (3) health care employers, health care industry partnerships, and labor unions/labor-management partnerships.
- 3The preference is to be applied by the Secretary when considering applications for grants under Section 2008.
- 4The bill reindexes subsections (c) and (d) to (d) and (e), respectively, as part of the amendment process.
- 5Effective date: The amendments take effect October 1, 2025.