; and (4) building or strengthening career pipeline programs, including those for high school students, older workers and retirees, veterans, and other displaced workers. (b) Consideration of recommendations In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of national organizations representing the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology, and direct care professionals, including the American Physical Therapy Association, the American Occupational Therapy Association, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Association for Respiratory Care, the American Academy of Audiology, the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, and the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals. (c) Required information and conditions for award recipients (1) In general The Secretary may require recipients of awards under this section to report to the Secretary concerning the annual admission, retention, and graduation rates for eligible individuals in programs of the recipient leading to a degree in any of the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology, and direct care professionals. (2) Falling rates If any of the rates reported by a recipient under paragraph (1) fall below the average for such recipient over the 2 years preceding the year covered by the report, the recipient shall provide the Secretary with plans for immediately improving such rates. (3) Ineligibility A recipient described in paragraph (2) shall be ineligible for continued funding under this section if the plan of the recipient fails to improve the rates within the 1-year period beginning on the date such plan is implemented. (d) Evaluation (1) In general In accordance with paragraph (2), the Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, shall evaluate the implementation and outcomes of this section on the recruitment and retention in long-term care