The U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources met to report on the referred bill (S. 2231) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize nurse education programs established under Title VIII of such act. It reported favorably without amendment and recommended that the bill be passed. The bill reauthorizes the nurse education programs for both undergraduate and graduate nursing students and creates a nursing shortage relief demonstration program to increase the recruitment and retention of nurses for long-term care, home heath care systems, and nursing homes. A summary of the bill looks at Title I special projects and Title II assistance to nursing students. The text of the bill includes special project grants and contracts, advanced nurse education, nurse practitioner and nurse midwife programs, nursing shortage relief programs, traineeships for advanced education or professional nurses, nurse anesthetists, traineeships for undergraduate education of professional nurses, and loan provisions. Committee views and action on each topic are discussed, noting the bill was considered and reported favorably without amendment by unanimous vote. The cost of the bill will fall within budget function 550. The Committee determined that there will be minimal or no increase in the regulatory burden of paperwork as a direct result of the bill. Changes in existing law are noted. (SM)