Washington, D.C., Jul 3 - Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services will award the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) a $15,909 grant through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP).

The Nurse Faculty Loan Program’s objective is to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty.  The schools that receive NFLP funding must provide loans to students enrolled in eligible advanced degree nursing programs (masters or doctoral) with an education component(s) that will prepare the student to teach.  NFLP loan recipients that complete the education program, and following graduation, may cancel up to 85% of the loan while serving as full-time nurse faculty at an accredited school of nursing.

“I am pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services has granted funding for the School of Nursing at UTEP,” Congressman Reyes said. “This funding will assist UTEP in providing opportunities for its students, and in educating nurses who will serve the El Paso community for years to come.”

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.