119th Congress
S. 1380
SPARC Act
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became law
- Sponsor
- Jacky Rosen(D-NV)
- Introduced
- Apr 9, 2025
- Policy area
- Health
- Committees
- Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Official text
- Introduced in Senate · Congress.gov page
Cosponsors (5)
Original cosponsors (1)
- Roger F. Wicker (R-MS)
Added later (4)
- Peter Welch (D-VT) · Jun 4, 2025
- Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) · Apr 27, 2026
- Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) · May 11, 2026
- Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY) · Jun 17, 2026
Summary
Summary by the Congressional Research Service· describes the “Introduced in Senate” version
Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care Act or the SPARC Act
This bill establishes student loan repayment programs to support the provision of specialty medical care in rural areas.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must carry out such a program for specialty medicine physicians (i.e., practicing in an area other than primary care) who provide care in rural communities with shortages of such physicians. Physicians must agree to a period of obligated service and, for each year of such service, HRSA must pay one-sixth of the principal payment and interest on eligible loans up to a maximum cap of $250,000. Additionally, HRSA may carry out a similar loan repayment program for nonphysician specialty health care providers.
Roll-call votes
No recorded votes on this bill.
Actions
- Mar 19, 2026 · Senate
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held. - Apr 9, 2025 · Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. - Apr 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate