An amendment to recapture 61,000 unused green cards lost in prior years, to bring in more nurses and physical therapists from overseas, had been cut from appropriations bill H.R. 3043 prior to its veto Tuesday by President Bush.

Karen Fleming, VP at staffing firm HCCA International, said earlier this week there's a chance a stand-alone bill could be introduced next year to recapture visas. Meanwhile, the nursing shortage continues to get worse monthly, she said.