Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand speaks during a press conference held over Zoom. Submitted Photo

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is co-sponsoring a bill to help infectious disease clinicians and health care workers pay back their student loans.

“We need to help remove the financial barrier and make these jobs accessible to everyone,” Gillibrand said at a press conference last week.

The Bolstering Infectious Outbreak Preparedness Workforce Act would authorize $50 million for the student loan repayment program. People who work with infectious disease and bio preparedness — such as physicians, clinical pharmacists, physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses — could get up to $50,000 for each year of service. People could pay off up to $150,000 worth in loans by using the program.

Gillibrand used the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic in addressing the bill. “Our doctors and medical professionals are understandably getting burnt out,” she said, stating that one in five American medical workers have quit their jobs since the pandemic began.

“This creates a vicious cycle that creates strain on staff,” especially infectious disease staff, she continued. “We need these workers and their expertise.”

The bill is sponsored by Gillibrand and Democratic senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Ben Cardin of Maryland, along with Republican senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Gillibrand said the bill has been endorsed by the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association.